DECEMBER
Time to sit beside the fire reading seed and plant
catalogues. Use your vine prunings to make the
base for Christmas wreaths then decorate them
with holly, ivy and seedheads from your garden
then dream of a happy new year in your burgeoning
garden!
NOVEMBER
Continue dividing plants and plant
bare root roses - some of my favourites
are the glorious pinky white
Pierre de Ronsard, supposedly once
flowering it continues blooming
through deadheading and feeding.
I also cannot do without creamy
white Mme Alfred Carrière and the
cerise coloured Zéphirine Drouhin
both will still be producing the odd
rose for me.
OCTOBER
This is usually a benign month and time to be busy in
the garden - it's the perfect time to start any garden
construction projects (like rose trellis or archways) as
they'll be ready to plant up next month, and spring
weather can be unpredictable. This is the time also
to divide and plant perennials and fill planters, pots
and borders with all those spring bulbs bought last
month. Autumn crocuses and cyclamen will be blooming.
Be ready to lift your dahlias and any other plants
you want to over-winter in your potting shed.