Friday 8th November

Ginkgo

We started with a discussion about autumn colour, looking at some leaves from trees in Sheffield Park and talking about trees that look particularly amazing at this time of year. These are just three:-

• Liquidambar is a deciduous tree with maple like leaves that turn to crimson, orange and purple in autumn
• Ginkgo biloba, or maidenhair tree, has been described as a ‘living fossil’ because it is the sole survivor of an ancient group of trees older than the dinosaurs.It has fan shaped leaves that turn yellow in autumn
• Sorbus Joseph Rock - this Rowan has copper leaves in autumn with creamy yellow berries

Sorbus Joseph Rock

Liquidambar

                                                                     
Check out Barcham Trees website for information on a comprehensive range of trees

Now is the time to put tender plants in the greenhouse or cold frame and it is not too late to sow some more sweet peas. Sweat peas will need some protection from winter winds and you need to pinch out the growing tip after you have 3 sets of leaves.Tender succulents like Aeoniums need to overwinter indoors.
It is also time to prune rambling and climbing roses.The RHS website has useful detailed information on pruning rambling roses and  climbing roses. Hybrid teas and shrub roses should not be pruned until Feb/March time. Ramblers usually  flower only once in June whereas climbers repeat flower. Climbers are more contained and can be suitable for growing over arches etc. Rose pruning ensures that plants grow vigorously and flower well each year.

     Activities in the garden this week:

• preparing a bed for planting allium bulbs
• digging up dahlias and storing the tubers for overwintering - the tubers need to be turned upside down to dry out for a few days before being stored in a box with old compost/straw in a shed or greenhouse during winter months
• planting up last of the pots with spring bulbs
• pruning climbing and rambling roses

Forthcoming events at Garden House
 see Garden House diary

16th Nov  - Botany talk from Irene Fletcher
22nd Nov - Flowers for the Christmas table with Bea Andrews
27th Nov - Wine Tasting with Henry Butler
plus just a few places left on the Christmas wreath making workshops

Ammi majus looking good for next year

Dahlias drying out

Storing tender plants

Sweat peas have been pinched out