As I write this we are expecting the first frost of the year. In the horticultural world this is a fairly significant event in that it sorts the men from the boys out in the borders. Like all keen gardeners, I have been awaiting this event with a certain amount of trepidation as I know that from now until next spring (whenever that may be in our topsy turvy climatic scheme of things!) the borders will take on a completely different feel. Most of the colourful perennials and certainly all the traditional bedding plants will now be happy memories – leaving the brilliant firework display of berries, fruits and falling leaves. For most of us this period of gardening abstinence, where the lawnmower, hedge cutters and weeding paraphanalia can safely hibernate for a few months, is a blessed relief, but for others such as yours truly it is the best time of year to get stuck in and sort out the beds!
One of the difficulties with beds is that they are full of plants (!) which means that when you come to try and work in them you inevitably start to sustain casualties. The usual suspects to fall victim to friendly fire are bulbs – how many times have you put your spade through a clump of King Alfreds or your favourite (and expensive) alliums?! Next on the list of vulnerablity are the fleeting spring flowerers that put on a brief but wonderful display and then disappear into the supposed safety of their underground homes. Equally, we have all the usual border suspects such as alstromerias and peonies that may help our cause by hanging on to a few leaves to display their presence but normally have retreated earthwards by this stage.
I know we are preached at by all good gardening books and our informed TV gardening celebs to get ourselves organised to prevent this sort of thing happening – but, let’s be honest, how many of us actually have the time (or even enthusiasm dare I say?!) to go around and make sure that we keep a plan of where we have actually planted things? Most of us will use the label in the pot when we buy the plant but when the blackbirds, or in my case one of the dogs, removes this ‘chewstick’ – are you going to diligently replace it with a handwritten one? Also, what about all those bulbs which are sitting around like an unexploded minefield waiting for the steel of your spade?
The simplest way to sort out this conumdrum is to keep a photo file of your borders with shots taken at various times of the year. It doesn’t cost anything and it allows you to recognise just where your plants are, as well as giving you the chance to review planting combinations and where changes should be made. Where you’ve planted bulbs, try sprinkling some sand or pebbles over the spot to remind you where they are and, for more precious plants, I use something like an upturned wire hanging basket as a Rolls Royce solution!
The bottom line is that you shouldn’t be afraid to get stuck in and make some changes to your garden and now is the best time to do it. The memories are still fresh in your mind (particularly if you check your piccies!) of how it looked and most plants are receptive to a bit of rough and tumble at this time of year. You can reshape the borders, get some well rotted compost in the soil and replant with divisions from the original plants and Bob’s your uncle! Don’t wait for spring to come because the moment will be lost. Do it now and you can plant your spring flowering bulbs and bare root trees and shrubs at the same time, then sit back and wait with smug satisfaction for spring – if we get one!
Jonathan Wild
Garden Consultant.
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