January in the Garden
A new year, with fresh possibilities and with lots of potential in the garden. Wishing you a very Happy New Year from the Team at Mackintosh Martin Gardening.
In mid Decemeber, Liza was lucky enough to go on a guided tour of the gardens at Wisley. Wisley is a RHS garden based in Surrey. At the time of the visit, the trees had lost their leaves, the herbaceous perennials had been cut back and flowering had finished. The winter garden resembled the bare bones of what was planted, it was time for the trees, the woody shrubs and the sturdy perennials to show off what they can do during this season and how they continue to add value and beauty.
The bark of the trees on the Willow, Dogwoods and Acer’s really came into their own. Liza particularly loved the winter scented garden. Flowers at this time work harder to attract the smaller pollinators so often have a strong scent. This includes Edgeworthia, Daphne, Sarcococca and Witch hazel. It is worth considering planting beautiful trees and plants with scent, winter flowers or structural features with winter in mind, as Wisley demonstrates what can be achieved and the amount of interest that remains when the dormant months have been considered.
January is the time when the garden, very slowly begins to come alive. It is the ideal time to prune fruit trees and complete planting of bare root shrubs, trees and fruit canes.
Star Plants in January:
Snowdrops, will flower from January to February
Witch hazel, which flowers from December to February
Hellabore, the Christmas rose, flowers from January to February
Dogwood, the brightly colourd bark can be fiery red, orange of vivid yellow and captures your eye on a dull winters day.
Jobs we will be working on this January:
Cutting back old hellebore leaves, protecting the plant from hellebore fungus & allowing the flowers to be in full display alongside fresh leaves
Plant bare root roses
Pruning | Dogwoods, Apples & Pears, Grapevines, Buddleia, Fruit bushes such as gooseberries and black currants
Shrub roses
Hardy Summer flowering shrubs
Wisteria (Winter Prune)
Continuing to weed
Clearing the last of the falling leaves
Protecting plants from frost and cold
