From time to time, sundry samples of leaves and twigs are brought to the nursery, some for identification, others for the identification of those pests that have eaten them, or fungi that have infested them. Evergreens retain their leaves for many more months than deciduous plants and therefore accumulate more evidence of damage. On many species, these old leaves will drop as young fresh ones appear. Do not, therefore, be over concerned about the tatty appearance of these older leaves. The majority of damage sustained on these old leaves occurred many months ago and the assailants have long since vanished. Its worth digging out an old magnifying glass, or better [...]

As spring arrives there are two jobs to get on with now: prune shrubs grown for winter stem colour including  Cornus, Salix and Rubus. To allow the sap to rise and to see promising young leaves emerge, only to cut them off is wasteful and will reduce the development of young shoots. Cut back also Hydrangea paniculata varieties if you are after sumptuous cones of flower in late summer. The other key job now is to apply fertiliser where it is needed. Sandy soils, low in organic matter, can have virtually no nitrogen. Apply small amounts of growmore or rose food over the root zone of any impoverished plants. Rain [...]

As perennials die down, many will leave a woody superstructure above ground. The old and rather woody spikes of Sedum spectabile  make a wonderful spectacle on a frosty morning. More importantly, the  old stems act as a marker, so that in the spring, when the weeds quickly appear, you can locate your plants. Being easily able to find your perennials also makes the job of lifting and splitting much easier, another job which can be got out of the way. Busy gardeners have enough to do in the spring. The first half of this year was fairly wet and resulted in more growth than is usual. This might be a [...]