THIS MONTH IN THE GARDEN (Dec 09/Jan 10)

Last October I mentioned a silver leaf infected plum tree in a garden at the rear of Syston Library car park. The owners of the garden, Dave and Theresa Morgan, wrote to me at Syston Town News to say they had read my article and had now cut down and burnt the plum tree. They then asked if they should remove the roots. All trees and shrubs infected with bacteria, root fungus disorders and most forms of virus should have not only the top removed, but also as much of the root system as you are able to dig out. You will notice I say most forms of virus, as there are a number of plants with variegated leaves and the variegation is often due to a virus, but this type of virus is not harmful to other plants. Dave did go on to say that his plum tree looked terminal after he had pruned it during the winter. You should never prune stone fruits such as plums, damsons, cherries etc when they are dormant, but only thin them out during July when in full leaf. The sap will then quickly heal over the wounds and prevent silver leaf and other pathogens from entering the wounds you have created. Dave also wanted to know where he could obtain a Syston White plum tree. A few months ago, I saw this on offer at Goscote Nurseries in Cossington, but he might also have a word with some of the allotment holders in Upper Church Street as a number are grown on the allotments. It has been a marvelous year for berries, the hollies, Cotoneasters, Pyracanthas and other plants in my garden are laden with berries, consequently the blackbirds and thrushs are having a marvelous time eating them. Take no notice of the old saying that a good crop of berries means we are in for a hard winter. A good crop of fruit, berries and seeds is due to a mild, frost-free spring, when the pollen is not frozen and plenty of pollinating bees, hover-flies and insects are present. I have now removed all the dead foliage from my perennials and this, mixed together with weeds and tree leaves has gone into my compost heap. In making compost I always throw a couple of shovelfuls of garden soil into every six-inch layer, the bacteria in the soil helps the material to break down. Hardwood cuttings are a simple way of raising new young deciduous shrubs and soft fruit bushes. Always take hardwood cuttings from the current years (December) growth, select strong disease free wood between 9 and 12 inches (22/30cm) long. Make a straight cut just above a leaf eye at the top of the cutting and a slanting cut just below the bottom eye. Use a spade to make a slit 12 inches (30cm) deep in a sheltered, but well lit spot in your garden. If you garden on heavy soil, it is always advisable to half fill the slit with sharp sand. Hardwood cuttings of Roses and Gooseberries should have the bottom two thirds of their thorns removed, if you leave the thorns on, as you push the cuttings into the slit, you will create air pockets into which roots will rarely form. Push the cuttings into the slit leaving three growth buds above soil level then, using the heel of your boots, firm the soil back around the cuttings. People who want advice on their gardens often stop me and recently a person wanted advice on colourful ground cover, but they did not want any perennials as these die away in the winter. I gave a list of plants, which I grow and look attractive throughout the year, and as they looked at the list, I told them that amongst these were seven evergreen perennial Heuchera’s with yellow, amber, chocolate, purple veined silver and cream leaves. When grown in fertile soil Heuchera’s will soon form bold clumps whose foliage looks attractive twelve months of the year.

There will be more about gardening during 2010, until then have a merry Christmas and lets look forward to a happy and prosperous new year.

Derek Cox