Text by Carol Bucknell. Illustrations by Pippa Fay.July’s checklist
CarnationsOnceusedingarlands by the Greeks and
Romans,carnationshaveremained one of the most
popularflowersforcutting.Aswell as the traditional
pink,theycomeina hugerange of colours – there’s
evena greenvarietywithpompom-like flowers called
‘GreenTrick’.Youneeda sunnyspot with well-drained
soiltogrowcarnationsbuttheyrequire little else apart
fromsomefertiliserinspringand mid-summer, and a
cut-backinwinter.Long-flowering and easy to grow,
carnationscanalsobepropagated from cuttings, so
Flowernexttimeyoubuycutflowers,try your hand at this.OUTDOOR DIARY+ Early-flowering spring bulbs are often on sale
in garden centres during midwinter. Rather
than cut flowers for the house, buy potted bulbs
such as sweet-smelling hyacinth.+ Flowers are good for bees and for us. Seed
for spring flowers can be sown indoors now
so plants are well established by late August,
ready for planting outside in early September.
Easy options include aquilegia, alyssum,
calendula, cornflower, cosmos, delphinium,
lobelia and sweet pea seeds.+ Weeding is much easier
when the ground is soft and
moist. Getting stuck into those
weeds now means there’ll be
less to contend with when the
temperatures rise in spring and
everything bursts into growth.
When buds are starting to swell on rose stems
it’s time to prune them (wait until late August
or early September in cold areas). Cut out dead
and diseased stems and those that are crossing
each other. Retain only strong stems and
shorten those you are keeping by half to two-
thirds, making all your cuts above an outward-
facing bud that is pointing in the direction you
want the rose to grow. Try to give bushes an
open, vase-like shape.
Winter is also the best period
for pruning deciduous trees. The
lack of leaves makes it easier to
see what you’re doing. Do your
research before making those
cuts, and if you’re really unsure,
hire a qualified arborist.
Don’t prune trees and shrubs that bloom in
spring such as azaleas, forsythia, hebe, manuka,
flowering cherry, crab apple, viburnum and
weigela. Wait until after flowering, otherwise
you may lose flower buds.
Now is a good time to hit the
winter sales for outdoor stuff
such as furniture, barbecues and
garden accessories. Secondhand
shops, demolition yards and
auction sites can also be
treasure troves.
If you’re like me, with piles of open seed
packets lying around at this time of year, don’t
throw them away. Gather them up, check
they’re still dry with no mould or damp, and
close firmly using paper clips or rubber bands. If
packets are torn, tip seed into a paper bag and
label. Put in an airtight jar or box, then store in a
cool, dry, dark spot until spring sowing time.
Bare winter gardens help us
see what maintenance needs
to be carried out on structural
elements such as fences, walls,
paths, terraces, pergolas and
ponds. Do they need to be
replaced, renovated or just given
a simple tidy-up?
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