Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

Week 1

General

Any ponds likely to collect the falling autumn leaves were covered with netting. We also cleaned out excessive growth from plants in the ponds.

Labelled all the different DAHLIA varieties so they can be identified when lifted once the frosts blackens the tops.

Started to close vents and doors on greenhouses at night as temperatures fall.

Checked that greenhouse heaters are working well as frosts will soon be here.

Allotment

Rebuilding hot box.

Planted out CABBAGE 'April', 'Durham Early' and 'Duncan'.

Gentleman's Cottage Garden

Removed FRENCH BEAN 'Rob Roy' now that it has finished cropping.

Elizabethan Vegetable Garden

Planted out CABBAGE 'Pixie'.

Greenhouse

Started to remove MELON and CUCUMBER plants that have finished cropping.

Week 2

General

Forking over bare patches, incorporating our own garden compost and then planting where needed.

Harvested most of the remaining apples and pears and stored them in a dark shed in well ventilated stacking crates.

Reduced frequency of grass mowing as the growth rate is slowing down.

Allotment

Removed TOMATO plants and forked over area.

Removed SWEET PEA plants.

Parterre

Removed FRENCH BEAN 'Valdor' and replanted with LETTUCE 'Valdor' and 'Sentry'.

Planted out LETTUCE 'Winter Density' and RADDICHIO 'Palla Rossa'.

Gentleman's Cottage Garden

Planted out CABBAGE 'Pixie'.

Greenhouse

Removed remaining MELONS.

Week 3

General

Shredding woody garden waste, LAUREL prunings etc.

Emptied leaf bins filled in previous years so that they can be filled with this years leaves.

The garden umbrellas were taken in from their positions and put into dry storage for the winter.

Taking cuttings from tender perennials and some shrubby herbs. ARGYRANTHEMUM, SALVIA and OSTEOSPERMUM, as well as ERYSIMUM, LAVANDULA 'Hidcote' and ROSEMARY as these will replace older plants next season.

Allotment

Removed all FRENCH BEAN plants.

Cut MARROWS and PUMPKINS and put fruits on top greenhouse benching to harden the skin prior to storing.

Nursery

Dividing plants dug up from our lining out area as well as the gardens and then potting, generally into 2 litre pots.

Parterre

Cut down GLOBE ARTICHOKES.

Tidied LEAF BEET 'Perpetual Spinach' and removed any bad leaves.

Weeding and general tidying in flower borders around the outside.

Cut BEECH hedge.

Artisan's Cottage Garden

Planted LETTUCE 'Winter Density' and CARROT 'Amsterdam Forcing' and covered with a cloche. Trying carrots to seeif we can get a quick crop of small, tender roots.

Week 4

General

Started raking up leaves and filling leaf bins, a lawn mower was used to collect leaves from lawns.

Cutting back perennials that have finished flowering and look untidy.

Tall shrubs such as BUDDLEJA davidii, ROSES and LAVATERA which are usually pruned hard in the spring were pruned by about half of their height to prevent them being blown about through the winter, they will then be shortened further in the spring.

Spiked compacted lawn areas with a fork to aerate the ground and then brushed sharp sand into the holes.

Reduced the watering of indoor plants.

Brought all tender perennials and shrubs in pots into the greenhouse towards the end of the month. All these will be watered minimally throughout the winter.

Greenhouse

Removed CUCUMBER plants now they have finished cropping.

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

HOME

© Gecko 55 Ltd. All rights reserved