Flower Garden.

• Plant tulip bulbs. Select bulbs with different flowering times to prolong the flowering season. For flowers in March and early April plant bulbs of the Kaufmanniana, Fosteriana and Greigii groups. For flowers in April to early May try Swan hybrids and parrot tulips and for late May there are Rembrandt and multi flowering types.
  
• Put in any winter bedding if this has not been done. This is the last chance to plant wallflowers, bellis, etc.
  
• Remove any stakes or other supports as your herbaceous perennials die back.
  
• Cut back any herbaceous perennials except penstemon which should be left so the stems protect the crown of the plant. It is also still a good time to lift and divide perennials that look overcrowded.
  
• Remove fallen leaves from lawns and borders and put them in a separate compost bin or even a black bin liner to make leaf mould.
  
• Take root cuttings of perennials such as poppies, verbascum and phlox.
  
• Stop feeding any pond fish and float a ball on the water so that if the pond freezes over you can remove the ball and leave a breathing hole for the fish.
  
• Plant bare root hedging plants, trees and shrubs as soon as you get them home. If the ground is frozen or water logged just heel them in until the weather improves.

 
Lawn.

• Continue to keep the lawn free of fallen leaves.
  
• Don’t walk on the grass if it is water logged or frozen.  Walking on frozen grass can leave brown footprint shaped marks.
  
• If the weather is very mild and the grass is still growing you can cut it with the mower blades set at least 1½” high.
  
• When putting the mower away for the final time give it a good clean and spray oil on any moving parts.

 
Fruit and Vegetables.

• If the ground is not frozen or water logged plant new cane, bush and fruit trees.
  
• Mulch fruit trees and bushes.
  
• If not already done put grease bands round both the trunk and stakes of fruit trees to prevent female moths climbing the trees and laying their eggs.
  
• Do not leave any rotten fruit to lay on the ground around fruit trees or bushes as they will carry infection on to next year.
  
• Remove any yellowing leaves from Brussel sprouts and stake if they look vulnerable to falling over.
  
• Snap the leaves on cauliflowers and bend them over the curd to protect them.
  
• If you have a vacant patch in the vegetable garden dig it over, weeding and incorporating well rotted manure as you go.
  
• After digging you can either apply a mulch or sow a green manure such as winter rye.
  
• Clean garden canes and store in a dry place for use next year.

 
Wildlife.

• If you don’t have a bird feeder, consider putting one up. There are many types available, most designed to help keep out vermin.
  
• As more different species of birds will be arriving from the north in order to find a warmer climate (yes believe it or not we are warmer than a lot of places) it is a good idea to put out different kinds of food to suit them all.
  
• Keep the birdbath clean and topped up with fresh water. Also keep it free from ice as all other water sources may well be frozen solid.
  
• At this time of the year birds will love trees and shrubs that still have berries such as pyracantha, berberis and sorbus. If you don’t have any berries then now would be the time to consider planting them ready for next year.
  
• If you have made a bonfire for Guy Fawkes night please check that it does not contain any wildlife such as hedgehogs just before lighting it.
  
• Clean out bird nesting boxes not only so they are ready for use in the spring but birds will shelter in them during bad weather.
  
• Plant native hedging to give shelter for wildlife.

 
Looking Good This Month.

Callicarpa - Shrub with beautiful bright purple berries.

Chelone Obliqua - Broadleaves with pink or purple flowers.

Cimicifuga Simplex - Bugbane. Bottlebrush type flowers on tall stems.

Cortaderia Selloana - Pampas grass. Tall grass with even taller plumes.

Euonymous Alatus - Burning bush. Striking red fruits and leaves.

Iris Foetidissima - Stinking iris (only if you crush leaves) with red seed pods.

Libertia - Evergreen leaves with orange or yellow seed pods.

Lonicera Fragrantissima - Honeysuckle with creamy white sweet smelling flowers.

Pyracantha Varieties - Tall shrubs with yellow, red or orange berry-like clusters.

Vitis Coignetiae - Crimson  glory vine. Leaves turn fiery red, gold and orange.

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