WINTER
When the ground is frozen
Prioritise birds: a hard frost curtails their
ability to rootle. As well as hanging feeders,
birds like food lower down (near a hedge or
tree). If you put out halved apples, blackbirds
will carve them out. Fruit is hydrating but
water is important, too. Break the ice on
troughs and ponds. Pouring over a new layer
of water can help a thaw.When the temperature plummets
Winter is the time for gazing out of the window,
now the structure of your outdoor space is laid
bare. Redefine silhouettes: does that tree need
ivy blurring its lines? Can you get rid of shrubs
crowding out a good tree? There’s always room
for more snowdrops. Indoor gardening can
involve looking at seed catalogues, but also late
winter seed-sowing: South American plants
need time indoors to prepare for a summer in
England, such as Nicotiana sylvestris and the
ravishing climber, Cobea scandens.
On rare sunny days
Tackle hedges and thin out trees: anything that
is blocking precious light. Prune roses, snip
winter-scented shrubs and bring them indoors
to waft their spicy perfume: a twig of Viburnum
x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ smells expensive in a loo.
If you make a posy for every weekend (anything
from a branch of greenery to a ‘tussie-mussie’
in an egg cup), you’ll be driven outdoors for a
few minutes, and the souvenirs that you bring
in are a tonic for weather-induced frustration.earth. Start creating your own organic matter by
building a compost bin out of palettes.
Cut gourds and squashes before they get
frosted; store apples somewhere cool. Remove
nasturtiums before they turn to mush; take
cuttings of pelargoniums or bring them indoors.
When it’s crisp but sunny
Enjoy the low sloping light that can electrify
trees and hedges: if you see this happening
outside the window, rush out and enjoy it,
like a good sunset. If your grasses are not
back-lit at this time of year, move them so
that they catch the sun.
Harvest seeds when it’s dry, and dry them out
further indoors. While you are thinking of the
future, plant bulbs in the sunshine and buy
end-of-summer plants that are reduced in price.
Plant up winter pots: skimmia, viola and
heuchera look good for months.
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