Vale Life resident garden expert Bob Priddle explains the old saying, “Gardens are enjoyed in the summer but made in the winter...”

VALE GARDENS

For the last few years we’ve been talking about and giving advice on how to cope with the long hot summers and periods of drought that we were going to experience. Last year I even successfully experimented with drought resistant hanging baskets. So, with all this in mind, along comes one of the wettest summers that I or many other people can remember.

As I have travelled around the Vale of Glamorgan talking to keen gardeners and other groups the questions seem to have revolved around rotting flowers and vegetables that have been infected with one form of blight or another. The thing about being a gardener is that you need to be an eternal optimist. Sowing seeds or planting shrubs in the belief that they will grow into the plants that you had hoped.

There is an old saying in gardening that “gardens are enjoyed in the summer but made in the winter”. What is certain is that work carried out during the next couple of months will pay dividends next year. Amateur gardeners tend to shy away from pruning or cutting back for fear of doing permanent damage but at this time of year its time to take your courage in one hand and your secateurs in the other and go to it. Most importantly make sure your secateurs are sharp and in good condition. Blunt secateurs can lead to jagged cuts or tares that can allow in infections.

So where do you start? There are some easy guides such as removing any branches that are dead, damaged or diseased. Be on the lookout for crossing branches especially on fruit trees. These will eventually rub against each other and provide sources for disease to get in. Secondly, look for shape. Most plants will benefit from being pruned into a goblet shape with the exception of prostate or flat growing species. Know your subject! Some, such as conifers, will not regrow if you cut into the hard wood. Roses should be cut back now by at least a third to avoid the plants suffering from wind rock. Prune with a sloping cut just above an outward facing bud. A second pruning can be carried out in the spring.

Lawns too will benefit from some work. Thatch is a layer of dead or decomposing material that builds up on the surface of the lawn. This layer acts like a sponge and become an ideal breeding ground for the growth of moss. So it’s time to grab a springbok rake and rake this thatch layer from your lawn. Its hard work especially if you’ve got a big lawn. You can take some of the hard work out of it by using a powered lawn rake.

At this time of year it’s also a good idea to apply some bulky organic matter to your garden especially your vegetable garden. This can be garden compost or well rotted farmyard manure. Be very careful of using manure that is not well rotted as this might introduced weed seeds into your garden. Unless you’re certain, it’s better to add manure to the compost heap and give it some time to decompose.

Although most people know and make their own summer baskets people often overlook winter baskets and planters. There are a range of subjects that can be included to provide great winter displays. Small evergreen shrubs such as dwarf hebes , euonymus ‘Emerald and Gold’, winter flowering heathers , vinca major or minor and a whole range of ivies such as goldchild or glacier. For flowering interest you can use subjects such as winter flowering pansies, violas or cyclamen. You can also dwarf bulbs such as narcissus ‘têteà- tête’ or the miniature double ‘rip van winkle’.

Finally, if your garden is looking like a bunch of assorted sticks, as all your shrubs and trees have lost their leaves, now would be a good time to plant some evergreens. With Christmas approaching what could be better that holly?

A question that I am often asked is “why doesn’t my holly have berries?” Well there are male and female hollies and to get the berries you’ll need both. To make matters worse the names are not much of a clue. “Golden King” is a female while “Silver Queen” is a male. There is however a variety called “J C Van Tol” which is self fertile and should provide those lush green leaves with red berries to cut for your Christmas table. Hollies are not quick growing but as I said in the beginning, its all about optimism... and patience.

GARDENING EVENTS December 12th Winter Celebration with wreath making, birdfeeders and the grounds lit up. Twyn yr Hydd House and Gardens. Free admission. 01639 648261 December 13th and 14th Dyffryn Garden Christmas Fair and Father Christmas. 029 2059 3328 Please contact the venues in question to confirm details before travelling.