Christmas brings with it different lights
The garden generally appears to be going into its winter slumber, but evergreens suddenly play an important role by setting the whole scene with a dramatic mixture of contrasting bright and deep shades of leaves.
The light levels during this month swing wildly between bursts of side-angled bright wintry sunshine and subdued moments, provided by cloud or the gradual afternoon dusk.
As the fallen autumn foliage fades, so the slightest gust of wind sends rogue leaves chasing each other across the lawns, tumbling and then settling in one corner - ready to be coated gracefully from the next overnight frost.
These frosts bring another lease of life to the garden by coating every blade of grass and every colourful stem of dogwoods and Acers.
Ilex is golden – as your eyes will see!
Ilex ‘Golden King’ will brighten up a shaded shrub or semi-woodland area throughout the year, but this smooth, ovular shaped leaved variety is much more noticeable during this festive time of year.
Its variety name is rather misleading, as it is a female variety – and needs a male pollinator (within around 12 metres, or 36 feet), to help produce berries.
‘Silver queen’, again ironically named, is a perfect male variety to combine with Golden King, as it has spiny white edged leaves to contrast with its host. Hollies are generally unfussy, and will grow in sun or shade (although they are ultimately woodland plants, and cast suitable shade on each other in a border). They will grow in most soils, and as they develop deep roots for a few years before much growth, they will adapt to dry situations.
Without pruning, these small trees will tend to develop a good silvery trunk over a couple of decades or so, with the branches characteristically drooping and sweeping gracefully groundwards.
However, the brightly coloured varieties will adapt to being grown in pots and being pruned in spring, provided they are well fed. Such container grown plants look especially effective very close to the house during winter, but will need ample water during the summer half of the year.
These are the dog’s
A SUNNY corner of a plot, needing some height, can be used for a specimen of a vibrant dogwood to lighten up the garden for winter.
Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’ is an excellent choice, displaying bare stems of bright salmon orange all winter long.
These look particularly effective when backed by a deep coloured evergreen, such as Prunus ‘Lustanica’.
Cuttings of these Cornus may also be inserted into pots of Primroses and Ivies near the front door to brighten up the entrance to the house for Christmas, and some of these cuttings may well even root by spring, providing more plants.
Have your very own indoor white Christmas
SNOWDROPS will be becoming visible. Why not pot up a small clump and bring them into the house where they will soon flower for Christmas or the new year?
After flowering, liquid feed them and let them die down naturally ready to plant back outside.
Evergreen, perfumy pink and soundly roundly
VIBURNUM Tinus is a wonderful roundly shaped slow-growing evergreen which, in autumn, produces masses of clustered dark green flower buds.
A mild December will soon open many of these to reveal plenty of fragrant pale pink flowers. Plant it in dappled shade in a slightly acidic soil.
MAHONIAS are stately shrubs, bearing large sharply edged leaves of deep green, throughout the year.
In December, the many sprays of fragrant golden yellow flowers open near the top of the branches, and these will last for weeks on end.
After flowering, small blue berries appear, and will remain during spring and summer. Prune after flowering, if necessary - and the new growth will bear flowers next winter.
Prevent yourself veg-ing out in front of the telly
VEGETABLE plots may well be in need of attention this month. This is an ideal time (providing the ground is not too wet), to clear away the remaining crops of beet and leeks, along with weeds and debris.
Digging over parts of the plot can be attempted, and continued throughout the winter months if necessary. Now is also a good time to apply plenty of compost or well-rotted manure to the soil, for the winter weather to break down.
Have a native-ity play
PLANT native varieties of hedging this month, to create an attractive wildlife friendly barrier to a section of garden.
Hawthorns, wild roses, hornbeam, holly and elder all combine together well to bring a soft, natural hedge, and all can be planted in well-prepared soil this month.
Prune apple trees during this month, by reducing stray branches which have got too tall, or out of hand. Crossing and rubbing branches will need removing too, as well as diseased or dead wood.
Younger, whippy shoots can be reduced to around two to four buds – try to keep a reasonable number of fluffy rounded buds, which will blossom in spring, and in turn produce fruit.
Three of a kind for your cottage garden:
Nordman Fir, is an increasingly popular Christmas tree, which has attractive bluish tinged needles, and these hold well for decorative use indoors. Space permitting, consider planting a young one in a sunny position for use in a few years time.
We’ll still be dreaming...
December may well remain mostly mild this time round, with strong winds often featuring. A rather wet first half, may be balanced by a somewhat drier second half of the month.
Sunshine levels should be near to or slightly above average, although the Christmas to New Year period may be on the dull side.
The end of your cottage annual
IN THE last year, we have brought you a mass of cottage garden knowledge - from transforming a normal plot into a cottage garden, starting one from scratch and even tips on how to touch up one that’s past its best.
We hope you've enjoyed the journey and look forward to bringing you more gardening hints and tips through Bloomin' Great soon.
Aucuba Japonica, otherwise known as spotted laurel, will provide all year round colour from their golden splashed or spotted leaves. This is far more noticeable during winter though, and they may provide you with a few bright red berries. This evergreen grows in sun or shade – even deep shade, but dislikes exposure to biting winds, especially if the soil is very dry.
Paperwhite Narcissi are becoming increasingly popular for forcing for Christmas blooms indoors. These can be purchased in pots in the early growing stages, and then brought into bloom indoors, along with other early spring cottage favourites, such as Hyacinths and dwarf tulips.
