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Give Your
Garden a Festive Look
2 Dec
2003
In the run up to Christmas with all the shopping
for food and presents it is hard to find time
to enjoy the garden. Arriving home during daylight
hours the garden is the first thing you see.
Even at night it is pleasant when the car lights
pick out a favourite plant or piece of sculpture.
For me one of the worst sights in the winter
garden is an untidy lawn with long grass. Whenever
the weather is suitable take the opportunity
to cut the grass. The mower blades should be
raised. A light trim will tidy the lawn and
leave it looking good for the most of the winter.
Washing the bark of some trees is a satisfying,
winter job. Mature birch,
cherry, acer and eucalyptus produce highly ornamental
and coloured bark. A quick wash with warm water
and a cloth will clean the main trunk removing
green algae and provide a focal point in
the winter garden.
The
dogwoods (cornus ), produce a range of shrubs
with highly ornamental, brightly coloured bark.
Varieties with young stems in shades of red
mix well with those that are yellow or dark
brown. Removing dust and grime from year old
stems with a pressure hose will leave the branches
gleaming whatever the weather.
 Fill
gaps in plant borders with variegated, evergreen
shrubs such as Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald
Green’ or the larger growing Eleagnus
pungens ‘Maculata’. Take care to
remove any shoots which have reverted to all
green foliage. Trees and shrubs which produce
berries are at their best in winter. Deciduous
or evergreen the white, orange, yellow, pink
or red fruit shine on the dullest day. They
glisten in rain and manage to look spectacular
when coated with frost. Unfortunately our feathered
friends also enjoy them and, while their need
for food is more basic than our wish for interest
and colour it is worth while protecting a few
branches that are well laden with berries. Cover
them with landscape fabric making sure there
are no holes where birds can enter. Over Christmas
remove the cover and have the double enjoyment
of a brilliant display of berries and the sight
of your favourite blackbird having Christmas
lunch.
 Where
there are lots of berrying shrubs cut sprigs
of holly, cotoneaster, Gaultheria mucronata,
sea buckthorn and pyracantha and make garlands
of berries to hang from trees. They will look
dramatic and attract wildlife.
Coloured outside lights have become an essential
part of the festive season but the winter garden
can give them a run for their money.
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