Prune
Tidy up perennials.
Shape up evergreens such as shade-loving plectranthus
Prune grevilleas by 30 per cent.
Water
Stop watering frangipanis and succulents, which are now dormant and can rot easily in cold weather.
Prevent
Watch out for scale, which looks like hard spots, on camellia, citrus, figs. Spray with EcoOil.
Feed
Feed winter crops.
Fertilise potted Cymbidium orchids with Strike Back for Orchids until the spikes are in bloom.
Harvest
Pick pumpkins with the stem to prevent rotting. Put fruit high on a shed roof, or on a table or bench, not the floor.
Prepare
Chill tulips and hyacinth bulbs in the crisper for a few weeks before planting out later this month.
Prepare the ground for deciduous trees arriving ‘bare rooted’ from nurseries next month. A large deeply dug hole with plenty of organic compost is ideal.
Order rhubarb, asparagus and artichoke.
Admire
Admire gordonia’s handsome glossy foliage and large ‘fried egg’ flowers of white petals with prominent yellow stamens. Gordonia is a low-maintenance tree
for urban gardens, to about 5m.
We hope you have enjoyed this article so far.
One of the many benefits of Garden Clinic membership is full access to our website. Members please log in to view the complete articles.
If you are not a Garden Clinic member and wish to access our website as well as enjoy the many benefits of membership, including access to our Helpline 7 days a week, please visit the link below to join us.