PLANT OF THE WEEK: Iris Unguicularis (Algerian Iris)

Within the depths of winter, this iris gives color and perfume with its sweetly scented flowers. Native to the Mediterranean, I. unguicularis prefers well-drained neutral-toalkaline soil. Plant in September in a sunny, sheltered spot. One of the best cultivars embody darkish purple Mary Barnard and pale blue Walter Butt. Notice that it’s poisonous to canines, cats and horses. 

HEDGE YOUR BETS RIGHT NOW

This can be a good time of yr to plant deciduous hedges, reminiscent of beech, hawthorn, and hornbeam — so long as the bottom isn’t frozen or waterlogged. 

Or strive blended native hedging, which could embody blackthorn, hazel and canine rose, bringing a contact of the countryside to your backyard. 

When you put them within the floor now, whereas they’re naked root and dormant, they are going to have loads of time to determine roots earlier than the spring and summer time. 

Use a string tied between two sticks to mark a straight line the place you need the hedge, then dig out a trench about 10 to 15cm deep. Break up the underside with a fork and add humus-rich natural matter reminiscent of peatfree compost or well-rotted farmyard manure. It’s also possible to add bone meal fertiliser. 

Then place the person crops into the opening, spaced 45 to 60cm aside till they’re coated to some centimetres above the roots. Exchange the soil and agency it in together with your boot. 

Hedging won’t placed on a lot progress in its first yr, however inside three to 5 years it’ll present a thick barrier which helps to scale back flooding and air pollution. It’s nice for wildlife, too. 

CUT BACK PERENNIALS 

Because the climate alternates between torrential rain and freezing temperatures, gardens have taken a pummelling. I normally depart seedheads and grasses for so long as potential, however this yr all the things has turned to black mush. I plan to reap the benefits of this weekend’s dry forecast to chop remaining perennials down with a hand instrument. That is additionally a possibility to evaluate which crops may want lifting and dividing within the spring.

This can be a good time of yr to plant deciduous hedges, reminiscent of beech, hawthorn, and hornbeam — so long as the bottom isn’t frozen or waterlogged

It may be tough to encourage your self to get out within the backyard over winter, however I discover organising my instrument shed offers me the kickstart I want. Select a dry day to carry all the things out of the shed and provides it a very good sweep. When you haven’t achieved so already, wash out outdated plant pots to reuse them. Kind by way of seeds and organise them in a recycled field or tin in response to which month they must be sown in. Dip bigger instruments in a bucket of heat water then wipe dry with an outdated towel. My high tip for cleansing secateurs and hand instruments is use child wipes — biodegradable ones, after all. 

It may be tough to encourage your self to get out within the backyard over winter, however I discover organising my instrument shed offers me the kickstart I want

READER’S QUESTION

I’VE grown raspberries however want to strive one thing new. Any suggestions? 

Mr T. Crowson, York. 

Attempt tayberry, a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry, bred on the Scottish Crop Analysis Institute within the Seventies. They’re a bit like loganberries, however hardier, with double the fruit. Rubus ‘Medana’ is the unique tayberry, tolerating solar or shade and bearing heavy clusters of darkish purple fruit between June and mid-August.