THE GARDEN

FRONT GARDENS UNDER THREAT
The threat of empty water reservoirs and hose pipe bans were never mentioned by the media in 2004. Surprise, surprise! Instead we heard that many of our sewage and storm water systems are unable to cope with the heavy downpours of rain experienced by most of us this summer. These storms dropped so much rain in a short time that house guttering overflowed and low lying areas flooded. Run off from roads, farming land and overflows of untreated sewage were often responsible for polluting streams, rivers and outflows to the sea, so that we saw Water UK and The Marine Conservation Society warning the public that these heavy storms and flooding were making bathing water around our coasts unsafe.

One of the changes that home owners in towns and cities have made to contribute to this situation is the paving or concreting of front gardens so that cars can be parked without restrictions. Unfortunately by covering whole front garden areas with concrete or block paving it means that rainfall cannot be absorbed by the soil and just runs off to road drains. This total obliteration of soil is getting worse as our urban areas become concreted over.

Retaining some open soil or gravel surface in your front garden is one way to redress the balance. There is no reason why paving can't be restricted to two runways for the car wheels, while the remaining area is covered with a weed-preventative membrane and then gravelled over with pea shingle. This will allow low growing flowering and foliage plants to be dotted around the garden and even planted between the car runways.

It is possible to have an attractive front garden containing plants yet still provide space for parking a car. Plants that remain in small low-growing clumps are ideal as you will be able to step over them. Your local Garden Centre will be able to advise you on rockery perennials such as thrift (Armeria), aubretia, gentian, dwarf phlox and saxifrage. Herbs such as thyme, variegated sage and chives will provide leaves for the kitchen as well decoration for the front garden.

This winter we can guarantee plenty of rainfall and winter winds that will rock tall plants, especially roses. This movement of the stem in the soil can gradually create a gap between the stem and the soil. Unfortunately this smoothing of soil around the stem collects rain water and this often freezes during hard weather and can damage the tree. First check the stake that is supporting the plant stems and renew this or the tie if it is not up to the job. Then heel in some more soil around the base and cut back tall stems to reduce rocking in the wind.

Tidy up all rose trees now that most of the leaves have dropped. Trim back tall stems of bush varieties to prevent wind rocking and collect all the leaves that have fallen below the bush. For a clean start to next years growth pick off all the leaves that show sooty brownish marks of rose blackspot disease. Don't add these diseased rose leaves or cuttings to the compost bin, but instead take them to the tip or burn. Where blackspot is noticed, remember to start sraying your roses with either RoseClear or RoseClear Gun! next year in April when new leaves start to open.

Plan your flower borders during the winter bearing in mind any colour theme you wish to follow and the eventual flowering height of plants.

I already intend the backs of my borders to be awash with foxgloves this year and will be trying the new F1 Camelot series from Thompson & Morgan that was shown so spectacularly at the Chelsea Flower Show and Gardeners World Live exhibition. Although foxgloves are normally biennial, this new variety will bloom in the same year as sowing. The pink, white and purple heads grow to about 90-120cm tall (3-4ft) and will mix with any cottage garden plants such as aquilegia, poppy, stocks and aster. I will be sowing my seeds in the greenhouse in March so that plants are big enough to flower in summer.

Seeds that will also be on my list are some new varieties that have recently been awarded a gold medal in the international Flueroselect growing trials. Gaillardia 'Arizona Sun' is an outstanding new perennial variety, as well as a wonderful annual bedding plant which will produce a profusion of large striking flowers in the first year of sowing. This compact and uniform perennial produces masses of fiery orange-red blooms tipped by a ring of rich flame yellow from June to September each year.

Another top tip is a double-flowered Coreopsis called 'Rising sun', This outstanding perennial variety produces masses of golden yellow flowers with mahogany bases all summer long within the first year of planting. The double, fringed blooms of this easy to grow beauty measure 5 cm in diameter and will provide colour impact in containers and stunning border fronts.

topical tip

INDOOR PLANTS

Flowering pot plants make excellent Christmas presents and help to add colour and joy to every home. You will find that every sort of outlet is selling pot plants at this time of the year, but not all of them are equipped to store and display them in ideal conditions. If you are tempted to buy from supermarkets or DIY outlets do buy early when they are first displayed on shelves. Better equipped outlets, such as garden centres, that sell houseplants throughout the year tend to re-stock more often, give the remaining plants more attention and have much better display conditions so you can be more assured of their quality.

Poinsettias are the star of winter houseplants with traditional pillar box red most people's favourite. Breeders have however come up with plenty of colour variations that supply an interesting talking point when on display at home. The really dark foliage of 'Red Splendour' makes a good contrast to the tradional red bracts or you can find 'Noble Star' which has lighter red bracts that verge towards pink. 'Maren' is very attaractive rich coral pink and the soft yellow bracts of 'Regina' make a good plain contrast. Two-tone varities are worth looking out for. 'Monet' carries a basic creamy yellow bract that is shot through with strawberry pink centres, while 'Marblestar' is salmon pink edged in cream. Watch out for purple bracts of 'Plum Pudding' that is already a varourite in north America. Also popular in the US are the 'Winter Rose' varieties that having incurving bracts that create a distinctive open rose flower head shape and 'Jingle Bells' with flecks of pink all over red bracts.

Whatever poinsettia you choose, buy it from bright, warm premises, not a market stall or garage forecourt, and keep it well wrapped for its journey home. Keep the plants at room temperature, watering occasionally and feeding with Miracle-Gro Houseplant Food every week to encourage it to continue its spectacular display for months instead of weeks.

Cyclamen are available in a wide variety of sizes and with interesting foliage as well as red, purple, pink and white flowers. The smaller ones such as Miracle and Midori have a delicate fragrance and make great houseplants, especially if you have a cool room. Best of all these varieties can be planted out in the spring to flower in a mild sheltered spot in the garden.

Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are great value as they can bloom for months on end with regular watering and an occasional feed with Miracle-Gro Plant Food. They make great houseplants as they naturally grow in cool, shady spots including Java and Queensland, Australia. Follow the instrctions on the label, watering the compost rather than the leaves and the crown which can otherwise rot. Good light, without direct sunlight is needed and a moist atmosphere is preferred by standing the pot on a gravel tray. For maximum growth re-pot every year in Levington Orchid Compost for a long-lived beauty.

African Violets (Saintpaulias) are more tropical in their needs and appreciate a warm room and a moist atmosphere. Watering can be tricky with these plants as it is difficult to keep water off the rosette leaves and hairy stems that mark easily. To alleviate the problem, always water from below, standing the plant pot in a saucer of water for around 10 minutes so that it can draw up the moisture it requires from below. To keep atmosphere moist around the leaves take a large saucer with sides that are at least 2.5cm (1in) tall and add gravel or expanded clay granules to a depth of around 2cm. Stand the pot on top of the granules and keep this layer moist at all times so that water is evaporating around the leaves continuously.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Dig parsnips, turnips and leeks in mild spells when the ground is not frozen. Continue to pick Brussels sprouts and cut winter cabbage when needed. Cover brassicas with fleece or netting to keep pigeons from attacking the delicious green leaves. Kale, purple sprouting broccoli and other winter cabbages can be decimated by birds if left unprotected.

TOPICAL TIP

IN THE GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY

Water pot plants in the greenhouse only when the compost is drying out and never on a regular basis. Plants remain healthier if the compost is allowed to dry out between waterings. Aim to keep the compost damp rather than permanently soggy.

On warm days ensure there is some ventilation. If you keep the air buoyant with a fan heater at night and an open window during mild days then there is less chance of grey mould taking hold. Feed cyclamen every week with diluted Miracle-Gro Plant Food using tepid water rather than freezing cold water straight from the tap

The fruiting rods of grape vines should be pruned back hard after the leaves have all dropped. In December the plant is relatively dormant and there is less danger of cuts oozing sap. Cut the rods to about 3cm (1in) from the main stem.

TOPICAL TIP

SUPPORT THE WEBSITE AND SHOP ON LINE

THE LAWN

With winters not so cold and periods of heavy frost that last for weeks rarely being experienced, it seems grass is tending to grow throughout the year. If your lawn starts to look long and untidy then give the lawn a light trim without cutting it too short.

For best results choose a mild, dry day when the blades of grass have had time to dry out. Dry grass stalks are easily cut cleanly by the mower blades and are more likely to be picked up by your machine, whereas blades carrying dew tend to be mashed up and mutilated by the blades and the roller.

If you mash up the grass with the mower and this activity is followed by a hard frost then dead brown patches can result. Pick your winter mowing time with care and wait until conditions are just right.

Keeping the edges neat and tidy is something you can do in winter. If you have time, use a half-moon edger to cut the lawn edges back to its original shape. A clean sharp edge with bare soil below the level of the lawn provides a handy barrier that can quickly and easily be treated with Weedol during the growing season so that annual weeds are no problem to clear.

topical tip

ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. USE PESTICIDES SAFELY
Weedol® contains paraquat and diquat. Weedol Gun!™ contains diquat. RoseClear®3 contains bifenthrin and myclobutanil. RoseClear Gun!™ contains bifentrin and flutriafol.®, ™and Miracle-Gro, Levington, and Scotts are trade marks of The Scotts Company or its affiliates.

GARDENING INFORMATION FROM The Scotts Company (UK) Limited

WRITTEN BY JOHN CLOWES

MAIN INDEX - GO SHOPPING