Delicately unwrap those exotic stunners
HERE are five important jobs to crack on with during the coming week:
1 Move pot-bound shrubs or perennials into larger containers to ensure they remain in good health. Generally, plants need repotting on an annual basis to ensure they remain vigorous. Check by decanting the rootball from the container – if all you can see is a mass of roots, it needs a new pot.
2 For a great display next year, deadhead lilacs when flowers fade. Wait until you can clearly see two shoots start to swell beneath the spent bloom, then snip off the flower
head above them with secateurs. Mature plants will need a few old stems cutting in winter to maintain an attractive shape.
3 In some parts of the country, exotic and tender architectural plants are carefully cosseted to help them survive lower temperatures from late autumn to early spring. Bananas, tree ferns and other beauties are now actively growing, so carefully remove insulating material to prevent it hampering new growth. 4 Warm, sunny weather will lead to water levels dropping in ponds
and water features, so top up weekly with rainwater from a butt. Tap water is fine as a last resort, but treat with dechlorinator liquid if your pond is stocked with fish to neutralise chemicals in tap water that can be detrimental to their health.
5 Rosemary, lavender, sage and several other Mediterranean herbs are a magnet to rosemary beetles, small oval insects marked with metallic green and purple stripes. These pests stand out clearly, so keep a close eye on plants and pick them off before they have the chance to strip the stems of leaves.