Crystal Palace Local

February 2010

I did my first bit of preparation for spring, hard with two littleuns, first the sweeping up the rubbish that has built up over winter, I did some careful weeding in the front as I planted a lot of spring bulbs that are just growing through the soil.

Galanthus, (snow drops) have just started to flower unfortunately I worry the window cleaner will flatten them!

My weeping prunus Kiku-shidare-zakura blossom has healthy buds, it’s first year it was blossoming than the snow killed off the flowering buds, and I’m expecting a good show spring 2010 unless snow strikes again mid spring.

I cut back the winter interest stem of Japanese anenemes A. huphenses , before they start sprouting and the old mixes with the new, I thinned my Rambling Rector it flowered fantastically last year but until a sturdy structure is built to support it I will have to control its size.

I have two compost bins in the back garden which is north facing, I have decided to move my fancy one to the south facing front to speed up the decomposition.

I’ve been asked for plants for a container for winter interest but thought I would start with spring, and it’s still winter so here goes, you could go all bulbs; Narcissus decorate with moss, stones twigs, or mix with some evergreens like box, jasmine, ivy, skimmear as depending on the size of container, and how often you may want to change for seasonal interest.

When I had my pot garden I was forever swapping and changing feeding topping up compost bedding down for winter, sunning, shading, pots are addictive, and hard work!

Tip for pots in the winter , try and keep in a sheltered position near the house perhaps , keep pots in groups the tenders on the inside and keep out of rain in freezing temps till weather improves and remember to give access to rain when temps improve this will hopefully protect the plants and pots. I used Autumn leaves to mulch for example fusias over winter until you have to water.

Spring is around the corner but as my friend has said it can snow in May but I have not seen it!!