The End of Winter..

• January and February are the best times for the winter pruning of apples and pears (non-stone fruit) and for making sure that any fallen leaves or old stems of herbaceous perennials don’t smother emerging bulbs or winter bedding

• Now is the time for winter pruning of Wisteria where stems are cut back stems to two or three buds

• Also prune other climbers such as grape vines, Virginia creeper, ivy, Campsis, winter-flowering jasmine, and the late-flowering Clematis – ones that flower on the new season’s growth - also called Group 3 Clematis

• As a reminder, any shrubs that flower very early in the season such as Forsythia, Deutzia or Weigela will be flowering on ‘old-wood’ so pruning should only be done after flowering or you will lose the show for this year 

• In the vegetable garden, pruning of fruit bushes such as blueberries, gooseberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants should also be completed.  Aim to remove about one-third of the oldest stems to encourage new, more productive shoots from the base of the plant

• Bush roses also will need pruning in February or early March.  The best method will differ slightly for floribunda/hybrid tea roses as compared to shrub roses but will usually require the removal of one-third to one-half of the length of the stems.  As always, the RHS have some useful guidance on the different approaches used for shrub versus hybrid tea.

• Bare rooted roses, shrubs, hedging, and some trees can also be planted now through to end of February and are a very cost-effective way to buy new plants

• Seeds of plants that need a long growing season or when you want the earliest possible flowers (or salad leaves!) should be started under cover

• Hardy annuals and many vegetable seeds, garlic, and onion sets can also be started under cover now

• Start the chitting of seed potatoes - Stand the potatoes end-up in a tray and leave indoors in bright light to allow short stumps of shoots to form.  

• Dahlia tubers and Lily and Dutch Iris bulbs can also be started back into life under cover but do be careful of more cold weather