The change in light is unmistakable at this time of year. The dark and slightly threatening skies are a contrast to the vivid red and orange streaks sometime seen in sunset. And there are the Christmas lights, the candles and the festivities – almost a necessity for the human spirit as we bed down for the winter and the shorter days.
Splashes of brightness are there in the plant world too if you have the eyes to see them. The yellow of the winter jasmine (Jasmine nudiflorum) stands out against its dark green foliage. Soon the berries of the holly, the firethorn (Pyracantha) and the pink flowers of the fragrant viburnum (Viburnum fragrans) can be picked out in the lower light levels.
When the bright days arrive and you have time for the garden, there are a number of tasks to get to:
• Make sure outdoor taps are insulated against the frost, either by wrapping them in cloth, bubble wrap or by draining them and turning off their water supply
• Prune acers, birches and vines now as they are less likely to “bleed” sap at this time of year
• Secure plants that may get blown around by the wind, especially climbers and newly planted trees
• Deciduous hedges such as beech and hornbeam can be renovated now. If drastic reduction is needed, then this task is best done over several winters
• Keep raking the leaves off the lawn as grass that does not get oxygen and light will soon become mouldy and start to deteriorate
• In order to improve drainage, use a fork to spike areas of the lawn that usually get flooded
• Hellebores that have very small flowers can be greatly improved by cutting off the leaves that obscure the flowers
• Prune open grown apples: refer to books or the net for more advice on this as the extent of pruning depends on the age and type of plant
• Old footballs can be used in ponds to prevent total coverage by ice. This helps the fish and wildlife by maintaining more even oxygen levels in the water.
• Add organic matter to heavy, claggy soil and let the worms do the work: they will be more far more effective than tramping and compressing the soil structure if you try to dig it when wet.
• Water evergreens in containers as wind can draw out a lot of moisture and dehydrate them.
• Try to keep off the lawns in frost as footprints will leave their mark.
Don’t be afraid to make the most of what is out there for adding to the festive decorations: yews, pittosporums, viburnums and mahonias all have evergreen foilage that will bring a taste of the wild into your house.
You won’t be the first to do this: it has been done for centuries and now is the one time of year when bringing half your garden into your house is considered normal.
Go for it: a fine habit I say.