The music in the shops may not have been getting me into a festive mood, but the frosts certainly have.
For many, the sparkling white mornings bring a dread of slipping, worrying bills and mucked up work schedules: set against this however, are the magical shapes, the transformed landscapes and the hush that accompanies a slower world. Frosts are the cloak that give berries, leaves, bark and even the mundane soil, a glorious dressing. They are nature’s moment to shine on stage.
They are also good news for the natural world: the cold will help with what horticulturists call stratification. This is where the lower temperatures help break down the outer layer of seeds so they can germinate when the warm weather arrives. A seed lying on the floor of a woodland will have the wet, the cold and the winter months to make this happen: frosts accelerate and improve this process.
On that note, spare a moment or two for the wildlife in your neck of the woods. A simple suet-rich fat ball hanging from a tree, or a birdfeeder filled with peanuts takes a moment to set up: for winter birdlife this could be a matter of survival. It is great to get away from my laptop and designing gardens in Hampshire to watch the local birdlife at work.
So, to warm up outside, bear in mind the following:
• Birches, vines and Japanese maples are best pruned at this time of year. Vines are less likely to bleed sap.
• Renovation of climbing roses is best done between now and February by thinning and reducing stems by approximately one third and taking out dead and diseased stems. Look up the RHS site for more details.
• Bare root trees and shrubs can be planted now. This is a very economical way of establishing hedges, especially as wildlife boundaries.
• With the chances of high winds growing more likely, it is sensible to ensure that all trees are properly tethered and climbers and cut back and tied in.
• Protect your outdoor taps from frost by covering them with hessian or bubble wrap: it is the expansion of the water when it turns to ice that bursts a pipe.
• A log or a football in a pond will prevent the total coverage of ice during a frozen spell. Ensure the log or football can be reached and removed!
• Be careful when you are tidying up a shed or having a bonfire: all sorts of creatures may be making their homes for the winter there.
• A stack of logs building materials (especially clay tiles and pipes) offer overwintering bugs a hotel for the cold months!
At the end of the day, you and the wildlife have a lot in common: a desire for food, water, shelter and a place in this world. Not too much to ask for Christmas, is it? I think there may be a bit of a story there…
A very, very happy, warm, and comforting Christmas to you all!