JOBS for the week
make attractive and poignant presents. I have many favourites in this category but will single out Tai Haku, the great white cherry, as one of the best. Its crown spreads broadly so needs space to stretch its limbs, and you’ll be dazzled by its large, pure white blossoms.
For a smaller garden, Shogetsu is a delightful cherry with bunches of drooping pale pink blossoms. It’s very popular as a wedding gift, its common name being Blushing Bride!
Anther bridal possibility is Exochorda The Bride, a wonderful spring-flowering shrub bedecked with white blossoms.
Or gift the happy couple with Rosa Congratulations – this is a rich pink, repeat flowering hybrid tea rose.
Celebrate milestones with Camellia Silver Anniversary – pure white peony blooms with golden stamens in late winter and beautiful evergreen leaves allyear round. Rosa Golden celebration
■ Jobs this time of the year are very weather dependent. If you’ve had flooding, you’re probably best staying indoors because pathways are slippery and soil shouldn’t be worked on when it’s sodden.
■ However, if you’re itching for gardening work, then it’s time for apple and pear pruning. Cherries and plums shouldn’t be touched during winter as this will leave them vulnerable to silver leaf fungus. Apply grease bands to the trunks to stop overwintering moths climbing up and laying eggs.
With temperatures plummeting, make sure your tender plants are either wrapped up or taken indoors.
■ Continue to rake fallen leaves off the lawn and out of the pond and on to the compost heap.
■ Harvest leeks, parsnips, winter cabbages and sprouts and enjoy home-grown produce on Christmas Day.
■ Go foraging in your garden for attractive greenery, berries, branches that can be kept fresh in a bucket of water or sprayed silver, gold or white for Christmas decorations, wreaths and gifts.