Here comes 2012 – a brand new year of gardening and enjoying the great outdoors.  Happy New Year!

We all have great ideas for our gardens this year with Karl, our bedding expert, planning a Jubilee garden of red, white and blue and Roland adding a rockery filled with alpines.

So what are your plans?  A completely new look or more colour, or even a larger space for growing your own?  Whatever you plan to do, we can inspire you to make the most of your outdoor space.

The weather may not be kind to us in January but you can still enjoy the fresh air by plotting your new schemes.  If you want a change in certain areas, now is the time to identify where you would like to improve your borders, for example, or choose which vegetables you want to grow.  That’s an easy one – start with your favourites!

So, for vibrant colour in your flower borders, why not plan your display now?  With seeds and bulbs to choose from, you can begin to prepare now.  What could be more satisfying than nurturing your seeds to established planted groups of colour?  Choose a mixture of colours and heights for the best displays.  Did you try any of our new varieties of plants last year?  If so, we would love to hear from you – how did you get on?  We introduced Petunia Phantom which proved very popular and this year we are going to add to our range with Starflame Primroses available from mid February and a new range of Nemesia Michelle Pink and Myrtle Blue from April.

Sweet Peas are an old favourite of Roland here at Grosvenor.  He says you can’t beat the colours or fragrance of the Sweet Pea.  Try ‘Prima Ballerina’ for gentle shades of pink, mauve and cream with each stem producing an average of four blooms so perfect for cutting and bringing indoors.

Sweet Pea Prima Ballerina

Watch out for our new seedlings which will arrive at the Garden Centre from mid February so if you want to cut out the first stage of encouraging seedlings from seeds, this is the option for you.  Make sure you use a recommended compost from our growing area which will give your seedlings the best start possible.

Don’t forget to protect your pots and containers for another couple of months by placing them close to the house or a sheltered wall.  And that all important fleece will still come in handy so make sure you have plenty ready for those frosty nights.

As you know, your lawn is the pinnacle of a beautiful garden and to ensure it stays in peak condition through the colder, slow growing months, you should have given it a good autumn feed.  Add a reminder to your 2012 calendar now that your lawn will need a feed in March to give it a boost before spring arrives.

Easy to grow tomatoes are a favourite with many beginner gardeners as they really are an easy starting point to a productive edible garden.  All you need to get started is a planter and seeds in your chosen variety – we have plenty to choose from!

Seeds of large onions should be sown in January to give them a long period of growth.

We would suggest that you start a gardening diary now so that you can keep notes throughout the year and monitor your successes and thoughts for improvements for 2013.

Indoors, your Christmas poinsettias should continue to thrive over the coming weeks but keep all houseplants away from heat and droughts.

And finally, encourage more birds to your garden by keeping your bird feeding station kits, feeders, trays and bird baths topped up with fresh food and water.  Make sure the water does not freeze over!

This month we welcome Christmas with a kiss under the mistletoe (home-grown of course!), a warming glass of mulled wine and an array of gardening goodies for green fingers to open on the big day itself!

But don’t put your feet up just yet - crisp, cold days are still a great time to enjoy your garden.

You should now concentrate on cutting down or digging up old plants to make space for new additions.  You may well have lost some of your favourites in the extreme weather conditions last year so take stock and plan areas for replacements.  Give new tender plants the best possible start by protecting their roots with a layer of mulch.

Don’t forget to add your garden waste such as the cuts of pruned herbaceous plants, to the compost heap to help create the high quality mulch bursting with nutrients ready for next year’s gardening.

If your patio is looking a little drab, add a planted container or filled tub to add colourful interest.  Filled with winter flowering plants such as Pansies, Heathers, Skimmia Rubella and Helleborus Niger and completed with foliage plants including Hedera and Sarcococca. Keep your containers on pot feet to retain good drainage – and don’t forget containers make an ideal gift at Christmas.

Leaves will still be falling so continue to collect them so that you don’t smother your low growing plants.  Once the leaves have finished, the month provides a great opportunity to begin your winter pruning of fruit trees.  Spur prune your apples and pears and bush fruit too.

Your lawn may need to be cut again if the weather stays particularly mild.  It would be a good idea to have your lawnmower serviced after this final trim so it is in peak condition ready for the spring.

Christmas would not be Christmas without Cyclamen and Poinsettia to add that all-important festive touch to your home.  Make sure they do not dry out and keep their roots moist at all times.  These plants need plenty of light but avoid droughts and heat sources such as radiators.  Other than that, they should be easy to care for and are always a welcome gift too!

At this time of year, the birds need you.  They need a steady supply of fresh water so please make sure your bird bath does not freeze over.  And keep any bird feeders fully stocked with seeds and nuts. Plants with berries are also a great way to provide birds with a tasty morsel and your Berberis, Holly and Viburnum will not only produce berries, they also provide a fantastic hedged nesting place for birds.

If your tulip bulbs are already in the ground, keep an eye on their location and water with a slug killer which will seep through the layers of soil and kill any molluscs below.

Winter root cropped vegetables should be delicious when harvested now, particularly your home grown parsnips and Brussels sprouts – the perfect accompaniment to your Christmas dinner.

The weather will become colder soon so ensure you have stocked up with plenty of fleece to protect your plants on frosty nights.  Keep branches of young trees clear of snowfalls to avoid weight damage and tie shrubs and climbers back to protect from strong winds.

And finally, Merry Christmas from all at Grosvenor!

Well, winter is most definitely here and we can’t hide from it any longer.  The nights have drawn in and Christmas really is on its way.

Make the most of any sunshine and get out into the garden with your flower beds, bulbs, lawns and patios all needing attention.

Leaf collecting is a must now to make sure your grass does not die off.  The compost heap will benefit from small pieces of leaf which should rot down fairly swiftly over the next few months.  Add it to kitchen waste for a rich mulch.

If, however, you have a large amount of leaves, you should consider making leaf mould. This is the same principle as the compost and will take longer to rot but when mixed with a compost maker and amalgamated with leaves, the mulch that will result over the next year or two will be the delight of any gardener. Not only will your garden benefit from a fantastic compost, rich in nutrients and ready to be used as a mulch or soil conditioner, leaf mould is easy to prepare.  Simply fill a large plastic compost bag with leaves and compost maker, tie with string and place it in a shady spot before returning to it in a year or two when it will be ready to use.

Ensure your lawn remains in tip top condition over the winter as this is your last chance to use an autumn treatment to harden growth and kill moss.   You can continue to mow the lawn fortnightly while it is still actively growing - you may find this continues until the beginning of next year when the icy weather really takes hold and stops growth.

Divide perennials (these plants should grow again every year) such as argyranthemum, echinacea and rudbeckia now to encourage further growth and a flourish of flowering heads next year.

Cut back tall rose bushes now before they get too wind-blown.  The wind can have a disastrous effect on roses as it can loosen roots and have a negative impact on the energy of your plant thereby stifling growth. 

You can finish planting spring flowering plants now such as wallflowers, winter pansies and violas.  And tulip bulbs should ideally be planted now.  This will give them a boost as the soil will not have cooled down yet so the root system should have chance to establish well.  Which colour tulip is your favourite?  The trend is for black tulips – especially Paul Scherer which is probably the darkest tulip available.  But there are so many varieties to choose from that you can create a display that lasts from March to as late as June! 

Did you know that bulbs are planted with the flowers already formed inside the shell of the bulb?  Plants, however, need to be fed to form decent flowers year on year.  By feeding the roots with a slow release plant food, you can ensure that nutrients will be released when needed – particularly in the spring as the soil begins to warm up and leaves start to show.

At this time of year, it is vital to protect your plants.  Last year, due to the extreme winter, many borderline hardy plants such as agapanthus and cordyline were lost.  So you can be better prepared this year by making sure you place an extra 5cm of compost over the roots of these plants for added insulation against the elements.  Cordyline leaves should also be tied up so that rainwater does not gather where the leaves join the stems.  

Hyacinths are such a popular indoor plant at this time of year so buy your prepared bulbs, add to 1cm water in a special glass vase and wait for the bulbs to develop.  You will soon see green leaves and flower buds appear from the top of the bulb.

Water and continue to regularly feed any plants such as cyclamen and Christmas cactus as these should soon start to flower.  Find a spot that your cactus is happy in and leave it there – it will not enjoy moving too often and will drop its buds.

For interest on your patio over the coming winter months, mix pots of spring bulbs and winter bedding.  Add layers of bulbs at different depths in the pot so as to encourage different flowering periods and prolong your colourful displays.  For example, add around 8cm of compost to the bottom of your chosen pot and place daffodils around 3cm apart.  Add more compost and then place early Tulips such as Red Riding Hood in this layer.  Add another layer of compost before positioning crocus and top off the pot with winter pansies and violas.

With the onset of the colder weather comes the first harvest of your delicious winter vegetables.  Early Brussels sprouts, leeks and parsnips should be just about ready.  Parsnips should be left on the soil surface once dug so that the frosts can help to change carbohydrates into sugars and naturally sweeten the vegetable. 

Protect brassicas from pigeons who are wily when it comes to feeding themselves at this time of year.  Use netting held down by stones to keep the pigeons away. 

Any spare soiled areas can be dug over now ready for next year’s crops.  Use compost to prepare the area thoroughly and use soil conditioner too. 

You can plant apples, blackcurrants, raspberries and redcurrants and of course, the delicious pear this month.  Again, improve the soil before you plant these cane and tree fruits so that new roots can spread into the new soil. 

Pick the last of the apples and pears ready now and begin to winter prune.  Cut away any unproductive branches and dead wood and then cut back hard the vertical stems by at least half to ensure the shape of the tree is maintained.  New side shoots should also be pruned to three leaf joints so that new fruit spurs will form over the next few years.

If you have any queries on any of these tips or the terms used, please do not hesitate to contact us – we’re here to help!

Start the month with a salute to the great British conifer as we celebrate National Conifer Week from 1st – 9th October.

There really is a conifer to suit every position in your garden and, available in all shapes and sizes, we can help you choose the perfect conifer for you, especially as we can save you money this week with our great 3 for 2 offer on picea glauca albertiana conica; cupressus mac.wilma and cham. Lawsoniana ellwoods gold varieties.

Whether you are looking to add interest, structure or texture, our great British conifers are easy to care for, will grow quickly and as they are all evergreen, will provide all-round colour in your garden too.

October is a busy month in the garden and with Halloween at the end of the month, you should see a great harvest of pumpkins from your Edible Garden too!

So read on for our tips for getting the most from your garden this month.

The leaves are falling and there will soon be a distinct chill to the air, even though this week has seen soaring temperatures!  But be prepared for high winds and the start of the autumn rainy season over the coming weeks as the October weather begins to take hold.

The soil has not cooled down too much just yet so that you can encourage the growth of roots for newly planted shrubs and hardy plants.  And this is the perfect time to plant a hedge of conifers too.

Cut back the stems of flowering perennial plants (‘perennial’ means these plants reappear every year) including Penstemon and Rudbeckia.  Their flowering season is over and they should be tidied up – remember to add the remnants to the compost heap.  Some perennials will flower for a while yet and should be left alone. These include Asters, Chrysanthemum, Japanese Anemone and Sedum.  Other perennials such as ornamental grasses and Echinops (globe thistle) should also be left for as long as possible as they contain seed heads which will provide food for wild birds, together with colour and interest in your borders this winter.
If you are unsure of the needs of your perennials, please just ask us!

Continue to plant spring flowering bulbs now as crocus and daffodils in particular need to be in the ground early this month.  Feed the soil to ensure maximum nourishment for your bulbs during the growth period of spring. 

Your winter flower bed will look great using specially selected bedding plants including viola and pansies, wallflowers and primulas. 

Kill off any weeds including brambles, docks and nettles to kill weed stems, foliage and roots.  And clear any gravel paths and driveways too. 

Your spring pots should be planted now to give the roots the best chance to develop before the weather becomes harsher. 

We would suggest you choose snowdrops for February, crocus for March, daffodils for April and tulips for May as this will give you good colour before the summer flower heads appear.

Finish sowing seed for new lawns as the soil will still be warm enough to encourage germination.  You should have already nourished your soil with a good fertiliser for stronger roots.

Rake your lawn to remove any thatch.  This is called ‘scarifying’.  If your lawn has not been fed since summer, an autumn feed will provide plenty of nutrients to harden growth and give your lawn the best start for the winter.

All outdoor tomatoes should be harvested now as they will continue to ripen indoors. 

Marrows and winter squash will also be ready for harvest and stored once their skins have hardened for delicious warming winter recipes.

Pick your ripened pears and apples and enjoy straight away or store in a cool place. 

Don’t forget to come and celebrate the apple on Saturday 22nd and 23rd October from 11am until 3pm as we once again hold our popular Apple Weekend!

Your garden should be looking beautiful now and bursting with colour and fresh fruit and vegetables.  Don’t despair if you have not prepared as much as you would have liked – this month we give you our top tips for catching up so your garden looks like you have spent months working hard in the garden.

If you are a beginner gardener and looking to create a beautiful garden and not much idea of where to start, we are here to help.  Try a moisture control plant food for an environmentally friendly method of keeping your plants full of moisture, yet without using copious amounts of water.  Easy to use, the granules should simply be sprinkled onto the soil and they will absorb up to 400% of their own weight in water!

Deadhead camellias and rhododendrons once they have finished flowering.  This will stop seed pods developing and the stem will benefit from new growth ready for bearing next year’s flowers.

Ericaceous plants (those that prefer acidic to lime soil) will need to be fed and watered well this month to encourage new buds.  Always remember to use any product either early in the morning or later in the evening when honey bees are less active.  As you are probably aware, bees are in decline and yet they really are the gardener’s friend.  Bees pollinate one third of the crops we eat and they need flowers bursting with pollen and nectar throughout the summer to survive. So, plant more colour in your garden and help to save the honey bee too!  Bees love the evergreen or deciduous Ceanothus which is available as a shrub or small tree. 

Houseplants love spending time outdoors too!  Place them in a sheltered spot and continue to water and feed regularly – particularly if we enjoy a dry spell. 

Continue to mow your lawn weekly now, weather permitting and feed regularly too to keep your grass in great condition.  Don’t forget to use a good lawn weedkiller too.  We have plenty of options to choose from, so please ask for help.

You can enjoy delicious homegrown produce from your Edible Garden now.  You should find they are growing quickly so remember to water regularly. 

French and runner beans can be sown now and until the end of next month but the sooner the better.  Now that the frosts are over, tender vegetables can be planted out now too.  Choose courgettes, cucumbers, pumpkins and squash, sweet peppers and tomatoes to get you started.  Make sure your soil has been prepared fully first with organic matter to give them the best possible bed in which to thrive.

Keep an eye on your early potatoes which should be ready for harvesting later this month. 

And summer fruits such as raspberries and strawberries can be picked and enjoyed now – delicious on their own, with cream or a beautiful addition to a pavlova.   

To add style and comfort to your garden, we have a fantastic selection of high quality garden furniture and a better than ever range of barbecues, accessories and chimeneas to keep you warm well into the evening.  And throughout June we have 10% off everything in our Weber range of barbecues and accessories so make the most of this fantastic offer and choose your new barbecue, perfect for alfresco dining!

Spring arrives in your garden with colour and a hope that winter is behind us!  March is the perfect time to rescue your garden and plan for summer.

Plant up pots of summer flowering bulbs and sow seeds of your favourite summer blooms and if there is one flower that you have always wanted to grow, 2011 is the time to give it a go!  Why wait?  With so many high quality plants to choose from, introduce something new to your garden this year. 

Why not redevelop one area of your garden to start with?  Here at Grosvenor we have our own Edible Garden to show you just how easy it can be to create your own productive space and you could do the same.  Grow your own is a very popular pastime and if you love your garden but have not yet ventured into the world of growing your own fruit and vegetables at home, why not plan an area of your garden and give it a go?  If you need any help, just let us know and we will be delighted to give you advice.

Begin with sowing tomato seeds for indoor varieties - they really are very easy as a starting point for you to experiment with as they are so simple to grow and care for.   Outdoor varieties should be sown later this month and then you can plant them out in June.  And this is the perfect time to mulch your vegetable patch if you are already well on your way to home-grown vegetables and fruit.

Compact vegetable varieties of crops can be planted in pots throughout this month and into April so if you do not have space in your garden for your own patch, pot-grown vegetables and herbs are still a wonderful addition to any backyard or hanging basket.

Early seed potatoes can be prepared now too.  Leave them to stand in a cool, bright position and you can start sowing crops outdoors including broad beans, lettuces, leeks, beetroot and radishes.  Ask for advice if you need more ideas.

After the harsh weather, your lawn needs some tender loving care.  Brush it briskly to remove any build up of debris that it may have collected over the winter months and then rake it so that the grass stands upright ready for its first light cut of the season.

Together with preparing your lawn for summer with a spring feed, you should also begin to feed your plants now with a slow-release fertiliser.

Keep your bedding plants looking good for as long as possible by continuing to deadhead and prune your shrubs and hedges now to allow more room for new growth.  Add a layer of compost to enhance your pot-grown shrubs.

Summer flowering clematis will benefit from a good pruning now and roses should be pruned too, giving you the perfect opportunity to remove dead and damaged stems.  Willows and hardy fucshias should also be pruned back hard this month.

If you do not already have a water butt, try to get one soon to reduce water wastage.  Used correctly, your collected rainwater can be used to water your garden throughout the summer.   

As the clocks go forward, we can all look forward to a spring full of colour in readiness for a long, hot summer.  Well, fingers crossed!

Top Tips for March:

1. Prune shrubs and hedges\
2. Invest in a water butt
3. Plan a vegetable patch in your garden for a healthier lifestyle
4. Clean your greenhouse
5. Prepare your lawn for summer
6. Divide perennials and share with friends and family.

This month celebrates the romance of Valentine’s Day and preparation for the summer months begins in earnest with early crocus, snowdrops and Dutch iris beginning to peep through and giving us fresh impetus to make the most from our gardens.

With the weather still chilly and wet, there should be periods of milder weather too which encourages growth.  But no matter what the weather, you can still prepare for the summer indoors by sowing seeds.

Sow your chosen seeds and leave them on your kitchen windowsill to germinate.  As the days begin to grow longer and the light increases, you should find that your hardy seeds will germinate quickly and become seedling plants within just a few weeks.  Other seeds are tender and will take longer to grow to flowering stage.  These include bedding geraniums, regal pelargoniums, bedding begonias, salvia and verbena and cannot be planted until the frosts are finished. Often called Half-Hardy Annuals, they need the warmth of indoor cultivation.  Keep them in a propagator or warm place and maintain a high temperature of 21 – 24C.

If you would prefer to choose ready germinated seedlings or opt for plug plants, here at Grosvenor we have everything you could possibly need with new selections arriving daily and we can help you make your choice. 
 
And what else epitomises a Valentine’s Day gift but the rose?  A red rose signifies passion, pink means perfect happiness and a white rose means eternal love.  We are sure most of us would appreciate any of these choices but instead of presenting a bouquet, why not choose a more enduring token of your affection by giving a rose bush or tree instead?  Here at Grosvenor, you can choose from a wide selection of rose at any time of year but Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to take a look. 

February is too early to pruning established roses but look for signs of disease and dispose of infected foliage, thereby lowering the chances of continued infection in the months to come.

Homegrown potatoes are grown and enjoyed by many gardeners now as you can buy a few tubers at once and you hardly need any space at all to grow them.  Even if you only have a small area outside such as a balcony or small patio, you can grow your potatoes in large pots or gro-sacs.  Choose your favourite varieties of seed potato now and remove the netting before the shoots have chance to grow through and snap off.  Put the tubers in the bottom of a seed tray and keep them in a cool, light position.  This is called ‘chitting’ and will encourage sturdy shoots for planting later.

Towards the end of February, plant out shallots and garlic cloves in a sunny position.  One of our top tips is to snip off the end of any dead stems close to the onion bulbs as the birds will find it harder to pull them out. 

Spring cabbages should be covered with fleece to encourage new growth and protect them from pigeons.  And you will find that by planting Jerusalem artichokes about 15ch deep and 45cm apart they will grow into 3m tall plants and provide a fantastic windbreak for more exposed areas of your garden.  And of course, they are delicious too!

Feed fruit trees and fruit bushes early to encourage growth.  If they are already offering you a good crop of fruit, try feeding with a balanced plant food such as Miracle-Gro Fruit and Vegetable Plant Food which should see an even better crop in comparison to unfed fruit plants.

Don’t forget to prolong the life of your winter pansies by dead heading regularly and feeding occasionally too as the weather becomes milder.

Finally, don’t forget the birds!  It is always important to keep them supplied with plenty of food but even more so while it is still colder weather.  Our range of seeds, mixes, nest boxes and feeders is vast so please indulge the birds in your garden to much needed nutrition (and a tasty treat!) on your next visit to us here at Grosvenor.

It only feels a short time since we were looking forward to 2010 with optimism for a productive Edible Garden and plenty of vibrancy and colour in our gardens.  And here we are looking forward to the same for 2011. 

Start your gardening diary now and keep notes of the dates and varieties of the seeds you have sown and even any problems you may have noticed throughout the garden.  Here at Grosvenor, we can advise you on any matter you may be struggling with so please don’t be shy and remember we are here to help!

Gardening is a great way to lose a few pounds whilst also benefiting from plenty of fresh air, and one of the first jobs you could do is to plant your pot grown Christmas tree in a sunny spot.  If your tree was a cut tree, recycle it by shredding it and using as mulch on your borders and beds.

Don’t wait until spring to get sowing.  Begin now by growing seeds on windowsills and choose from summer flowering bulbs here at the garden centre.  Once frosts are finished, you can begin to start planting.

Some vegetable seeds take a while to produce a crop, including onions.  But when you give them a head start and sow them in the New Year, your seedlings will have a good root system ready to plant out early in the spring.  You will need to sow them thinly and keep the tray at a temperature around 20C.

Prepare your patch of Edible Garden now by regularly digging it over and adding a soil improver ready for growing beans, marrows and peas.  Remember that areas set aside for growing root crops such as carrots and parsnips should not be treated with manure as it can encourage roots to split.

Buy your seed potatoes this month – why not go for a selection so that you have both early and late harvests?  Place them rose end up in a light, cool room so that the potatoes begin to chit, ie. produce sturdy shoots.  They will then grow quicker when planted outside in the spring.

Grapevines will need to be pruned now before the sap starts to rise as the weather becomes milder and winter flowering pansies should be deadheaded and tidied up now too.

Don’t forget that your garden needs plenty of protection during January as the weather can play havoc with plants and young trees.  Shelter them from the elements with fleece and use stakes to stabilise tender plants.

Houseplants do not generally need as much watering in the colder months, but make sure they do not dry out completely and as always, keep them away from draughts and radiators to prolong flowering.  Your Christmas poinsettias should continue to thrive over the coming weeks too.

Finally, January should be embraced as the beginning of a brand new year to enjoy your garden.  Join us again next month as we look ahead to planning for spring.

Top Tips for January
1. Start a gardening diary so you can keep your notes in a safe place
2. Plant your Christmas tree in the garden or recycle for mulch
3. Protect tender plants from Jack Frost!
4. Move houseplants away from dry heat sources such as radiators
5. Make sure your bird feeders are topped up and bird baths unfrozen.

With Christmas fast approaching, you could be forgiven for thinking that your garden can cope without you for a month.  But we do have some lovely bright weather in December so make the most of any dry days to tidy up and continue to prepare your garden for 2011.

Fallen leaves should be collected to avoid smothering low growing plants such as aubretia, sedum and violets.  Slugs and snails will soon gather under leaves if they are left to decay.  Instead, collect and store and in time, this will transform into very beneficial leaf mould which can be dug into the soil to improve the soil and feed the good insects!

If you have planted tulip bulbs, pay particular attention to their location and water freely with a slug killer.  This will have the benefit of soaking through the soil and killing all molluscs that may be hiding under the surface.

Herbaceous plants such as Aster, Echinacea and Rudbeckia should be cut back this month if you have not already done so.

December is a great time to get out into the garden and make way for new plants, shrubs and trees by cutting down and digging up old ones.  Clear as much of the debris as possible onto the compost heap and to avoid the re-emergence of new shoots next year, treat the surface of the cut stumps and bark with a stump and rootkiller.

Handy tip:  dig over the soil and leave in large clumps so that the frost and harsher weather will break it down.  This will give you a finer tilth to work with in the spring. 

As we saw last winter, new plants and shrubs do not always survive the really cold snaps of the frosty months.  It is therefore a good idea to add extra protection to new roots by covering with a mulch layer of compost or soil improver.

Pots and containers should always be lifted onto pot feet at this time of year to ensure drainage is free flowing.

You can lay turf on warmer days unless the ground is too hard and prepare your lawn to sow grass seed in the spring.

Your Edible Garden will need additional protection as the frosts really begin to set in and to avoid pigeon damage.  Make sure your broccoli, cabbages and sprouts are covered by netting as all brassicas will be an easy target for pigeons as they look to supplement their usual diet which is now in short supply.  Stretch the netting above the tops of the plants so that the pigeons can’t use their weight to push the net downwards and peck through!  And you thought squirrels were canny!

Prune grape vines, currants and gooseberries and divide and plant rhubarb. New fruit trees and bushes can be planted now and if you already have young and free standing varieties, these can be pruned now too.

Always check your stored fruits and vegetables regularly - any that are mouldy or rotten can be given to birds or wildlife.  This time of year is very important for birds and wildlife as they need extra care, so please do not forget about them this festive season.  Bird feeders and certain food scraps will keep them well fed and comfortable and the larger the variety of scraps and foods you are able to provide, the larger the variety of wildlife you will see in your garden. Keep the birdbath topped up with water throughout the winter as this will provide them with much needed water so make sure it does not ice over.

This monthly gardening column would not be complete without news and tips on choosing a fabulous real Christmas tree for your home.  Did you know that the Christmas tree is one of the most efficient plants for absorbing carbon dioxide?  And if you plant a container grown tree in your garden after Christmas, it can be completely carbon positive!

But where do you start when you see the vast array of real trees to choose from here at Grosvenor?  All are freshly cut and responsibly grown and whether you want the traditional look of the Norway Spruce, the classic glossy dark green of the excellent needle retaining Nordman or the narrow shaped Fraser Fir, we can help you make your choice.

Whichever variety you opt for, don’t let it dry out.  You need to place it well away from radiators and fires and top up the stand regularly with water.  You can ask the horticulturalist to cut off the bottom of your tree so that it is able to retain water easier - and remember to ask advice on how to plant your pot grown tree in the garden after twelfth night.

Watch out for stormy weather too as this can wreak havoc on tender plants or newly planted shrubs and trees.  Always check these areas after a strong wind to ensure they have not loosened and if they have, firmly re-plant.  You will also be noticing the return of Jack Frost so don’t forget to have plenty of fleece handy for those cold December nights.

And finally, Merry Christmas from all at Grosvenor!

Top Tips for December: 

1. Do not let ponds freeze over and keep birdbaths topped up with fresh water and keep scraps for birds and wildlife to enjoy

2. Harvest root crops including winter cabbage, leeks, parsnips and not forgetting sprouts for your Christmas dinner!

3. Clear leaves regularly to avoid drainage and light problems

4. Tie shrubs and climbers back to avoid damage from strong winds

5. Clear snowfall from branches of young trees.

November is a great time to enjoy the colder snaps before the real winter sets in.  As always, there is plenty to do in the garden so make the most of your garden and prepare now for a fantastic garden next spring.

You can still plant bulbs now and prune to your heart’s content to encourage new growth and there will still be the chance to harvest your homegrown vegetables.

The month of November is the perfect time to plant or move your roses.  Prune back the stems before you dig your roses up and make sure you dig them out well away from the stem so that you keep as much of the roots as possible to ensure they take better in their new location.  Make sure you dig a large enough hole so that the roots spread out comfortably and plant at the same depth as previously and enrich the soil with a good rose fertiliser.  We have various options for you here at Grosvenor so just ask if you need any help.

Your established climbing roses will need to be pruned now and shrubs can be cut back too, especially if they have outgrown their space.  You can also lift and divide herbaceous perennials this month to encourage flowering and improve the general shape and appearance of the bush.

Caring for your lawn does not stop now that the grass does not need to be cut as regularly.  It will still benefit from a trim but make sure it is not cut too short.  Around 2” is perfect as it will keep the lawn tidy and reduce any long stems.

You can also apply a good quality autumn lawn food until the middle of the month as this will help your lawn to thicken through the colder months.   

Winter vegetables including cauliflower, leeks, spinach, Swiss chard, radishes and winter cabbage can all be harvested this month.  Root vegetables such as carrots, turnip and swede can all be lifted and stored for use over the winter months – delicious in a warming soup or casserole. 

Encourage a sweeter flavour from your parsnips by digging them up and leaving them to lie on the soil surface so that the frosts will help the starch to transform into natural sugars.  Roasted parsnips are a great accompaniment to any Sunday roast at this time of year.

Herbs should be protected against the colder, wetter weather.  Simply use a cloche as a barrier or pot the herbs and bring inside. 

Why not use planted containers to create interest by your front door or on the patio this winter?  We have a fabulous range to choose from here at Grosvenor – and what a great gift idea too!  You can also choose your selection of winter flowing plants and ask a member of the team to plant them up for you.  

You can still plant bulbs including tulips this month and this is the last chance to plant out winter bedding including forget-me-nots, primula and viola for plenty of colour in early spring.

Tender plants should be cared for indoors over the colder months and if you have a heated greenhouse, so much the better!

A handy tip to try this winter to avoid extreme temperature changes and cracking of your pots, especially terracotta, is to wrap them in sacking or bubble wrap.

Houseplants are a wonderful addition to any festive home and this is the perfect time to see wonderful chrysanthemum, cyclamen and cineraria plants.  And by potting up Amaryllis bulbs now, you could have beautiful flowers ready for Christmas.  Remember to water and feed regularly for the best blooms.

Next month we will be concentrating on preparing your garden for Christmas and bringing the outside in by helping you choose your real Christmas tree. 

Top Tips for November:

1. Begin to clear up fallen leaves and garden debris
2. Use pot feet to ensure baskets and containers are raised
3. Plant tulips now for striking floral display next spring
4. Plant winter bedding and roses now
5. Insulate pots, especially terracotta, against cracking by wrapping in bubble wrap or Hessian.