Green Fingers: Getting ready for the winter
Crocus bulbs ready to plant in the autumn garden.
We cannot look into a crystal ball or any other old tradition if we wish to know what the future brings, and so maybe, with ‘Old Moore’s Almanac’ as a guide, we just make up predictions or beliefs as to what lies ahead in our lives.
One aspect is all the talk about climate change. Nature is as unpredictable as ever and throws a few hiccups, as in the last few years, leaving us wondering what will happen next. Our weather conditions have become more aggressive and damaging around the world and we are not let off the hook lightly as we have had some record-breaking out of character storms, snow, wind, rain and sun, all within the last number of years.
We, as people who spend time in the garden, take a more relaxed view of our expectations, due to a combination of patience and understanding of our surroundings. We accept more readily whatever comes our way and work on the basis that we are in tune with nature and sow, plant and cultivate our garden accordingly.
Gardeners and others who love being outside are generally a happy and contented bunch of people and there is not much that will upset them as they are laid back on things that might irritate others.
It is a personal choice on how much time you wish to spend working in your garden. You will note that I wrote ‘working’ instead of spending time in your garden, and from my point of view I do like to be outside as much as possible and part of that will be gardening.
The whole point is to enjoy what you are doing and not be a slave to any activity 24/7, as that would be a disaster and a chore, so the best bet is to find your own balance and go from there.
Growth in the garden has lost its rampant energy and is now slowing down, which might reflect our personal situation too. This means we do not have the pressure to complete tasks immediately and can take on a more relaxed mode as we tackle those jobs before the winter.
I am also surprised at how much activity and subtle exercise is undertaken by gardening and that is another positive factor in favour of our popular hobby.
There is a window of opportunity for a number of things to do in the garden, which will reap good results, and that includes sowing or repairing lawns, planting bulbs, trees, shrubs and fruit bushes.
It is also a good time to move and reposition plants that have grown too close to their neighbour, and hedge cutting continues with a final cut to conifers like leylandii.
We are also checking all our structural fixtures to make sure they are stable and secure and these include arches, wall trellis, pergolas and fencing.
There does not seem to be a happy medium in fruiting plants where you just have enough for your needs. It appears that it is either not enough or too much, and that can vary from garden to garden and year to year. This year there was an abundance of fruit, so there is a surplus available for own use, to give away and some for the wildlife.
If you have any comments or queries you are welcome to share them with me on 051 384273 or orchardstowngardencentre@hotmail.com and if of general interest I will include them in a future article.
