YOUR GARDEN THIS MONTH :
DECEMBER
Preventing Winter Damage
AS WE APPROACH THE SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR IN DECEMBER , YOU WILL NEED WORK TO KEEP YOU WARM OUTSIDE , SUCH AS DIGGING AND TREE PRUNING . CHECK YOUR WINTER PROTECTION AND IF YOU HAVE A GREENHOUSE MAKE SURE THE HEATER IS WORKING . HOPEFULLY THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY JOBS LEFT TO DO THIS YEAR SO YOU WILL HAVE TIME FOR SOME FIRESIDE GARDEN PLANNING .
Cold , wet and windy winter weather can damage trees , shrubs and garden structures such as trellis . Improving shelter , staking plants , mulching , wrapping pots , and careful matching of plants to places will help to prevent this kind of damage .
• In mild areas , tender plants can be overwintered outside with appropriate protective coverings .
• In cold or exposed areas , even hardy plants may need some protection from the elements .
• Evergreen plants and pot plants are at particular risk , so require special attention .
When to protect plants
Protective wrappings should be put in place at the first sign of frosts , although cultivation practices can be altered from mid-summer onwards to protect plants later in the season and long-term planning for planting shelterbelts or positioning new plants can be done at any time .
How to prevent winter damage Protection through cultivation
• Feeding : Avoid applications of nitrogen-rich fertilisers late in the season , as they stimulate sappy growth .
• Soil cover : Soil exposure , particularly in the vegetable patch , can result in leaching of nutrients . Green manure , such as mustard , sown in September reduces this leaching . Juvenile plants will retain nutrients until dug back into the soil in spring .
• Mulching : This can reduce compaction and soil erosion that can commonly follow heavy rain .
• Overwinter plants by wrapping : Plants can be protected from cold , wet weather by wrapping with horticultural fleece .
• Plant in a sheltered spot : Your garden is a microclimate in itself . You will have warm spots , at the base of a south-facing wall , and cold or wet spots on the north side of the house . Choose plants carefully for each of these positions . Site early-flowering plants such as magnolias and camellias so that they are not exposed to the morning sun , as rapid thawing of frozen buds can result in blackening and bud drop .
• Containers : Keep containers in dry , sheltered areas , grouped together for mutual protection . Prevent roots freezing in containers by wrapping with bubble polythene or straw . Alternatively plunge ( bury with the rim just showing ) the pot into the ground .
Other measures
• Structures : Before the start of winter , check all garden structures and replace or re-attach loose panels , roofs , posts , and fences . Replace solid fences with ones that are 50 percent wind permeable to avoid gusting , turbulence and shaking .
• Plant windbreaks : A cold and windy site will often require windbreaks of additional planting such as hedges . Strategic placing of temporary woven hurdles , netting or similar materials on deeply embedded stout posts can help in the short-term .
• Drainage : Deal with drainage problems promptly , as wet soils can make young or shallow rooted trees more likely to uproot in the wind .
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