PUTTENHAM & WANBOROUGH GARDEN CLUB NEWS
February, half way through winter now, it may not feel like it but Spring really is just around the corner. There are already signs in the hedge-rows,hazel catkins and pussy willows and snowdrops are peeking out in the hedge bottoms and gardens. If you are lucky enough to have the early daffodil, February Gold, their lovely sunny faces are a welcome sight in sheltered spots and of course cyclamens can also be found.
As I have to get my entry in a month before it's published I could be completely wrong, the gardens may be under a foot of snow, but I am ever the optimist, this is what we could be having!
By now you will have perused the seed catalogues and ordered your seeds, if not then now is the time to do so. Don't forget to check your show schedules to see what you could be entering in to the Summer & Autumn shows. Have a go this year, it really is quite addictive, new faces are al¬ways welcome, it is good fun and there is always someone there to offer advice and encouragement.
So what to do in the garden if my prediction is correct. February is the time to prune your Wisteria, remove seed pods, if you did¬n't in the summer and cut back to 2 to 3 buds. Now is also a good time to renovate deciduous shrubs, you can prune them hard up to March. Then, prune annually to keep them in shape, it will mean sacrificing a good show of flowers for a couple of years on such as Camellia and Philadelphus, but the result will be worth it. Some other shrubs are, Cotinus, Cornus, Ribes, Deutzia and Fuchsia.
Cut away old leaves from Hellebores for a better showing of flowers, winter flowering pansies will benefit from a tidy up, removing leaves with mildew and burning them.
That should keep us all busy till next month when the hard work really starts!
NEXT EVENT, at 8 p.m on Tuesday the 8th of February 2011, at Marwick Hall, "Surrey Safari" a Talk by Mr Geoff Lunn.