Newsletter

December 2020

Once again the garden centre is starting to fill up with a forest of Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes and we would like to welcome you to help you choose one for your home. Just a reminder that they are all whittled down to fit your stand. If you’re within our local area, we can deliver a 5ft+ tree to you for a small charge. We have Nordmann Fir non-dropping trees, Norway Spruce and a great selection of smaller potted trees. If you haven’t got the time to come in, please just fill in the on-line form on our website or give us a call and we’ll arrange everything for you.

The shop is filling up with gift ideas, many especially suitable for gardeners such as Sophie Conran hand tools presented in smart boxes. The horticulturalists in your family will also appreciate gift sets from Nutscene and boxes of Amaryllis bulbs. We have packets of vegetable seeds that will make perfect stocking fillers and be a flying start to the growing season in 2021.

We have scented candles from True Grace and Ode to the Wild and hand and body care from Bramley which contain botanicals and essential oils. Chilly’s drinks bottles come in a range of eye-popping colours; fill them with hot drinks to warm you up on cold winter walks.

The shop is also full of beautiful Christmas decorations and lights, from cute little figures that children will love, to huge silver and black baubles. Maybe you could add one or two new lacquered papier mache baubles to your tree, hand-made in Kashmir.

There will be a selection of wreaths and table decorations on display and we will also have wreath-making kits that include everything you need. You can then add more decorations or greenery to make them more individual. The shed continues to be full of unusual houseplants and indoor pots, also essential composts and feeds that you will need. Why not try making your own terrarium in a glass container – they make a lovely present and are easy to look after.

We still have Kadai fire pits which are especially popular this year now that we are all spending a lot more time outdoors. They come with a low and high stand plus accessories; you can get your firewood and kindling while you are here too.

Being a garden centre, we obviously still stock plants! Colourful cyclamen, primroses, Heuchera and winter pansies and violas will help to brighten your planters throughout the winter. Skimmia come in all sizes, with tight green or pink buds; Camellias that will be amongst the first flowers to open in early Spring; smart Yew balls, ‘impossible to kill’ Mahonia and ‘lollipop’ Bays to add structure. Don’t forget to plant one or two scented shrubs near an entrance such as Daphne or Sarcococca. These are just a few of the many plants we will continue to stock throughout the festive season.

In our quest to reduce our use of plastic, we now have sturdy and simply printed jute bags which are available for £3.95 – they have a strong flat base which is big enough for several pots.

We continue to operate a simple one-way system and have stations for hand sanitising throughout the site. We do ask that everyone wears a mask or face covering (unless exempt) while inside or outside at the garden centre. We want to make your visit as safe as possible for your sake and ours! Please give other customers and staff as much space as possible and remember that you may have to wait outside the site at very busy times but we aim to minimise this as much as possible.

We are now delivering again within our local area for a flat fee of £10; the minimum spend is £75. Please do use this service as it will help us to keep the garden centre site as uncrowded as possible and shorten the queue when we are busy.

We look forward to seeing you soon and would like to wish you a merry Christmas and Happy New Year and hope that we can look forward to getting together more next Spring!

With warm wishes

The team at APGC

Garden jobs

This isn’t a month when we plan much time in the garden but it’s good to get out there when the opportunity arises. Here are some jobs which might need doing.

General garden maintenance

• Check fences and trellis and repair as necessary.
• Protect tender plants from cold temperatures, either by moving them to a sheltered spot or into a greenhouse, or by mulching and fleecing plants which can't be moved.
• Put away or cover outside furniture, pots and tools which you won't be using during the winter months.
• Make sure climbers are tied in and trees are stable to protect against wind damage.
• Sweep and wash patios and paths to create clean non-slippy surfaces.
• Have a look for pretty seed heads and cones to bring into the house, and holly and ivy for festive decorations. Stand holly in a bucket of water until you're ready to use it.

Frost and snow

• Frosts will improve the structure of previously dug soil, but take care not to walk on or work the soil when it is waterlogged as this will do more damage than good.
• Frosts and freezing temperatures will help to kill off pests and disease, so enjoy the cold weather knowing it's doing good work outside.
• If snow is forecast, tie up cordylines, phormiums, conifers and other plants which may be damaged by the weight of snow.
• When freezing temperatures are forecast, a ball left floating on the pond will leave an air hole. This is especially important if there are fish in the pond.

Container gardening

• Have you got an empty pot, begging to be filled? It doesn’t take much time and effort to plant something to brighten the view from inside, or the approach to the front door to welcome seasonal visitors.
• Choose an evergreen shrub such as Skimmia and under-plant with Cyclamen, Viola or Pansies. Winter flowering heather will give a splash of colour over the months ahead and provide nectar for pollinators when food is scarce, or try a Hellebore to give months of colour and leaf interest.
• Put a winter scented shrub such as Sarcococca or Daphne in a container which you walk past regularly – the sweet scent will lift your spirits.
• Reduce watering of container plants, but don’t let them dry out completely - remember that the rain won’t penetrate densely planted pots.
• Move containers to a sheltered, dry spot, grouped together for mutual protection. Stand pots on feet or bricks to prevent waterlogging. Pots and plants are vulnerable to prolonged freezing temperatures. Wrap pots with bubble wrap, hessian or fleece to protect roots and prevent the pots cracking.
• Bulbs can be planted in containers if you haven’t got round to it yet – they may flower a little later but they will work. It’s a quick job and well worth a little effort.

Pruning

• Start to winter prune Wisteria, cutting summer side shoots back to 2 or 3 buds. Check our notes for guidance: Wisteria pruning
• Prune Acers, birches (Betula) and vines where needed; if left longer into the winter months, they will bleed from the pruning cut.
• If ferns are looking a bit tatty, give them a Christmas haircut, close to the crown, just as the new growth is coming through. A drop of liquid fertiliser will give them a boost.
• Prune open grown apple and pear trees during the winter months, but not those trained against walls, which should be pruned in summer. Take time to check the pruning methods and needs of the fruit and form you are growing. There’s no hurry - this can be done right through the winter months.
• Remove large unripe figs from trees, anything bigger than a pea; they won’t ripen now. Leave the tiny new fruits to develop next spring.
• Prune tall bush roses, to reduce wind rock - tall branches catch the wind and can loosen the plant.

Planting

• Plant deciduous trees and shrubs.
• Plant Hellebores which are raring to go with bud and flower in a wide range of colours; Camellias, full of bud, will brighten any garden; the scent of Sarcococca - Christmas Box - is hard to beat when planted near a path or door; brightly coloured dogwoods - Cornus - and other plants with attractive stems make a good addition to the winter garden. There are many winter interest shrubs and plants to brighten the cold months ahead.
• For height in borders or containers try a Camellia standard, a berry laden holly or a classic bay tree.
• Keep an eye on recently planted trees and shrubs to make sure they haven’t moved in the wind. Heel them in again if necessary.
• Finish planting tulips, alliums and other bulbs for colour in the spring.

Indoors

• Indoor bulbs such as Hyacinths, Narcissi and Amaryllis will last longer if kept in cooler conditions of 13-15C. The same applies to indoor plants such as Cyclamen and Azalea - they don't appreciate central heating. Poinsettia hate draughts and cold rooms, and should be watered only when the compost feels dry, allowing it to drain before returning to a saucer or pot.
• Once the heating is on houseplants may suffer. Spray foliage plants with a fine mister and think about grouping plants together to create their own microclimate, perhaps sitting them on a tray of gravel which can be watered to increase the humidity.

Lawns

• Throughout the winter months, avoid walking on waterlogged or frozen grass. Make sure that fallen leaves are raked up as soon as possible.

Wildlife

• Birds need regular supplies of food and water through the winter months, so keep the feeders topped up with high calorie offerings. In cold weather, keep the water supply fresh.
• Now is a good time to clean out bird baths and feeders.

Gift lists

• Write yourself a Christmas wish list. A new pair of secateurs or gloves (the leather gauntlets are fantastic!), a special pot (the range of indoor pots is irresistible) or Bramley hand cream and bubble bath.
• Plants make lovely gifts - a Camellia, large or small, a deliciously scented Daphne, an Olive tree or shrub, a pot of scented narcissi, or an elegant amaryllis to grow - there are many options. For those without a garden, a houseplant could be the answer.
• For new gardeners a flower pot filled with useful bits and pieces such as string, plant labels, a trowel and hand fork can make a lovely gift. There are lots of garden oriented ideas, which make really useful presents.

We wish you a restful Christmas season and look forward to keeping you busy in 2021!