We’re visiting with Bonnie Plikaytis in north Georgia today.
11.01.2024 - 13:48 / theenglishgarden.co.uk / Clare Foggett
Wisteria pruning is done twice a year, first in July or August and then in January or February. During summer, the pruning involves shortening the long, whippy tendrils this fast-growing climber flings out, cutting them back to five or six leaves.
The idea is both to rein in its vigour – wisteria has a habit of getting out of control and heading behind guttering and downpipes, or into roof spaces – and also to concentrate the plant’s efforts on flowering rather than producing leafy growth.
Winter wisteria pruning encourages stumpy spurs that bear lots of flowers. Photo: Shutterstock
The pruning that is carried out now, in January or February, further concentrates the plant’s effort into building up flower-bearing spurs. The plant is dormant and leafless, which makes it easy to see what you are doing, and you will find that the pruning is much simpler than it sounds.
All that is required at this time of year is to work over the climber, cutting back the same growths even further, this time to two or three buds.
When you have finished you will be left with a climber covered with stumpy little spurs, all bearing buds that will burst into flower in late spring. This hard pruning also ensures the flowers won’t be obscured by a tangle of leafy branches.
On older plants, more severe pruning might be needed, if there is old or dead growth, or branches getting in the way of doors or windows. Always cut stems back to a main branch, pruning just above a strong young shoot lower down, and aim to leave a well-spaced frame of stems covering the desired space. Tie in new stems to fill gaps if necessary.
If you don’t have a wisteria and want one, Wisteria sinensis ‘Prolific’ is a good choice for starters. Try Peter Beales or Burncoose
We’re visiting with Bonnie Plikaytis in north Georgia today.
How to Plant and Grow ‘Winter Density’ Lettuce Lactuca sativa ‘Winter Density’
No garden is complete without at least a few containers for seasonal color. I always specify locations for planters when I create a new landscape design, with the intention of keeping them filled in every season. Although many gardeners keep their containers filled with annuals in summer and cut greenery in winter, there is another option. Planting a dwarf evergreen that can remain in its pot for several seasons will provide structure and texture every month of the year.
After the torrential rains of December, it is a wonder that anything is blooming in Pacific Northwest gardens. Thankfully there are great plants that survive the downpours and even flourish when everything else is a soggy mess. Along with the plants surviving, there are insects that winter over in the trees, and they love to see the sunshine just like we do. As soon as the lukewarm sun starts hitting the trees, the groggy bees stumble out looking for some food (kind of reminds me of teenagers). It is essential that we gardeners provide early-blooming plants for these very important members of our planet. Interestingly, some bees are not at all particular about their food supply, while others are. Our goal should be to provide both native food sources and ornamental garden food sources. Nature’s creatures have a way of adapting to what is available, but they also search for specifics. The following are a few of my favorite late-winter-blooming plants for pollinators.
Winter is, broadly speaking, the ideal time to prune most trees and shrubs.
Planting ginger is easy, but you have to do it properly and at the right time if you want to get a decent crop.
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During the winter months many plants reveal subtle patterns, fine details, and a new range of colors that help us to see familiar beds and borders with fresh eyes. This is an excellent time to get outside, evaluate your garden’s bones, and make some plans for spring planting. In this episode Danielle, Carol, and their guest will explore some of the plants that fly a bit under the radar in winter months, but certainly deserve more attention. Do you have any of these underappreciated wonders in your landscape? If not, you may want to start digging holes as soon as the ground thaws to ensure that some of these unsung heroes get some well-deserved garden real estate. Will any of these winter beauties make it onto your wish list this year?
Winter brings with it a unique charm, transforming our surroundings into a serene winter wonderland. While the traditional notion of barbecues may seem reserved for warmer months, the prospect of a winter BBQ adds a delightful twist to the culinary experience. Picture this: a snowy landscape, the crisp winter air, and the enticing aroma of grilling delicacies. Winter BBQs not only defy the norms but elevate the outdoor dining experience to new heights.
The pear grown in Britain is the European Pear which derives from Pyrus communis, native of the temperate parts of Europe and the western part of southern Asia as far as the Himalayas. In America some varieties are grown which are hybrids between the European Pear (as represented by ‘William’s Bon Chrdtien’, known in America as ‘Bartlett’) and Pyrus serotina, the Japanesesand pear.
Anyone in search of planting ideas for their garden in the colder months is spoilt for choice when it comes to sources of inspiration. Up and down Britain there are sterling examples of gardens planted for winter interest: Cambridge University Botanic Garden boasts one of the earliest; Wakehurst Place is home to one of the more recent; then there’s Bodnant, Dunham Massey, the Savill Garden – the list goes on. One thing they have in common though is that they’re all quite large, and gardeners could be forgiven for feeling they need a separate ‘winter area’ or hefty acreage to create anything worthwhile in their own plots. Not so, says David Jordan, senior gardener at Anglesey Abbey, who cares for its well-known Winter Garden and has a host of winter plants to recommend that will easily integrate into your existing garden.
For many of us, this scenario may sound familiar: You move into a new house and everything is perfect—except that huge rhodie out front that is threatening to swallow the porch. Or, maybe you purchased a gorgeous lilac several years ago and now it is enveloping half the front walkway. I like to call the culprits in these cases the “beasts” of the garden: perfectly wonderful shrubs that tend to get out of hand. Perhaps you planted them at the start of your gardening career; or maybe you simply inherited a property with 1 (or 6) of these beasts already in place. Sometimes, you don’t want to get rid of the shrub completely, but after many decades of being ignored, you need to get things in check. Luckily for overwhelmed gardeners, there are specific ways to get these imposing monsters under control once and for all. True, there are far more beasts of the garden out there than are mentioned here—but you may be able to deal with them in a fashion similar to our three examples.