I’m probably going to irritate a few people now, but I cannot understand why commercial gardeners see the need for treating borders covered with winter leaves as if they were messy playrooms needing a good clean!
An organic layer such as a few centimetres of decaying leaf mould gives:
- Natural protection to the plants in heavy frosts
- Enriches the humus levels in the soil that encourage nutrient retention
- A microclimate for overwintering bugs and their larvae
Sure, tidy the leaves off the lawn to avoid that white mould building up and inhibiting healthy drainage, but if you leave the leaves until spring proper and you will be doing the eco system of your garden the world of good.
I wouldn’t recommend a topsoil that a farmer once commended to me either: “Concrete m’boy, that’s the best topsoil there is!”. Ever practical.
There are a number of tasks to do at this time of year that will get you out and enjoying the lengthening days and warmer spells:
• Between now and mid-March and after the heaviest of the frosts, many summer-flowering species can be cut back hard to encourage vigorous spring growth. This category includes Buddleja, Hydrangea, Ceratostigma, Leycesteria, Perovskia, hardy Fuchsias and deciduous Ceonothus. A rule of thumb as to how far to cut is: prune down to approximately one tenth of the existing height of the plant.
• Avoid pruning the deciduous Prunus species (almonds, ornamental cherries and plums) as they can be susceptible to silver leaf if pruned before the summer.
• Snowdrops can be lifted and divided after they have flowered and whilst the shoots are still green and vigorous.
• Trim winter-flowering heathers (Ericas) after flowering.
• Climbers such as Virginia creeper and ivy can be chopped back to keep them in order.
• Winter flowering jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) can have their new shoots tied into the main framework and their lateral growth shortened to about 5cms from the main stems.
• Clematis are a bit more complex. They can be cut back to the lowest, most vigorous pair of buds the variety belongs to Group 3 (check the label).
• Nesting boxes for birds put up now will enable them to check out their potential homes before calling the removal men and starting a family.
• Wait until mid-spring before turning your compost heaps as hibernating frogs, small mammals and possibly some small gardeners may still be over-wintering there.
If you want a really tidy garden, then employ teams of gardeners. However, the truth is that if you maintain your lawn and border edges, sweep up debris from the hard surfaces and prune as advised, you will have a perfectly well-ordered garden that looks like it is in business. And you won’t annoy everyone with your leaf blower either!