JOBS for the week
■ It’s a busy week for many with last minute shopping and Christmas dinner to get ready. But…a bit of gardening can just be what’s required to de-stress. There’s always plenty of clearing up to do around this time of year, clearing leaves, weeding and cutting back dead perennials.
■ It’s time to start ordering seeds for next year, especially if you are after anything a bit quirky or unusual.
■ Is there any gardening equipment you’d really like? A small cold frame, shiny new pair of secateurs? Hopefully someone gave Santa a hint!
■ Winter is a good time to improve your soil structure by digging in compost or manure, allowing time for the worms to break down the organic matter, making your soil rich and ready for next year.
■ Winter prune your wisteria – cut back side shoots to a couple of buds.
■ Don’t be tempted to cut flower heads on hydrangeas, even if they look quite scruffy. Leave them be as this will provide some frost protection to the A developing buds in spring.
■ Deciduous trees and shrubs can be moved while dormant, so take a look and see what would benefit from a new position in the garden. Provided the ground is not frozen or waterlogged, mid winter is the time to reposition them.
■ Did you take hardwood cuttings this time last year? If so they may be ready for potting on or planting out. If you didn’t, you could have a go this year. Suitable shrubs include buddleia, cornus, Salix and forsythia.