Winter Protection

Of one thing most gardeners can be almost certain - a cold snap is likely to catch them out. No matter how much you get into winter, really cold weather always seems to be still a bit away. Then suddenly you - and worse still your plants - are caught. The scene is one of devastation as stalks are broken and leaves shrivel.

The ideal, of course, is not to be caught. Quite a lot can be done, as you tidy up the beds ready for winter. When delphiniums have been cut back, draw the soil up round the clumps to protect the root system and cover them with ashes. Cut back peonies and cover their root systems with some strawy manure. The foliage of red-hot pokers and that front garden favourite, the pampas grass, can be twisted and tied.

Remember that shrubs - and particularly those in pots - should be prepared ready for quick covering. Give each a central stake and then place a number of outward pointing stakes around the plant, so that sacking, paper or a polythene cover can be laid over them. The surrounding stakes will hold the cover away from the plant and in the border can be held down with stones, or more easily tied around pots and tubs.

One thing to remember with plants that are covered in this way, however, is that an opening should be available to allow air in during frost-free periods. With plants such as camellias, take extra precautions, whether they are in tubs or in the border, by pegging down a good layer of straw over the area of the root system. A period of frost, particularly following a wet period, will penetrate deep down and kill off the root system.

Hairy-leafed rockery plants can be protected by placing pieces of glass, tent-style over them. Don't be caught out. Make the basic preparations now.

WORK FOR THE MONTH

Gladioli
Gladioli, lifted and tied in bundles or placed in boxes to dry, may be ready for cleaning. If the foliage has withered completely, force the old corm from beneath the new with your thumb nail. Pull off the dried leaves and store in a dry, frost-free place.

What...no catalogues?
If you find yourself without catalogues, send off straight away. The season for planning next year's displays and produce is upon us.

Pruning care
When pruning out larger branches with a saw, first make a cut on the underside, to prevent bark tearing back as the branch comes away. With some branches it is a good idea to cut through initially some way from the final position, leaving a smaller and more manageable piece to be removed with less chance of damage.

Cloche Celery
The tops of celery can be protected, either using straw or by placing cloches along the ridge.

Pinch Cherries
If a new flush of growth starts to appear on Christmas cherries - Solanum capsicastrum - and threatens to hide the colourful fruits, it should be pinched out.

Christmas tip
When buying poinsettias, choose plants with healthy bracts and good colour. Also check the small flowers in the centre of the head. Ideally these should just be showing colour. If they have already opened fully or gone over, then the display will be that little bit shorter.