GARDENER'S WORD

It's been bothering me now for a few weeks, knowing that I had many chores to do in the garden before winter sets in and one thing and another stopping me doing them.  Today, although it has been a little cool, it was pleasant and dry in the garden and I got so much done.  My biggest worry was protecting the Prunus Avium Stella, Gisela 5 sweet cherry tree that I bought this year.  It is still in its pot and I don't know just how hardy it is going to be in a pot when we can get such harsh winters here.  I didn't want to take chances, so I have moved the tree into the shelter of fencing and a mini-greenhouse , pushed other tubs close to the pot, and wrapped the tree's terracotta pot around twice with bubble-wrap.  I've put stone wedges under the pot so that it can drain in wet weather - Prunus Avium Stella does not like getting waterlogged.  I've also tied the trunk to a hook on the fence so the tree cannot blow over.  I...

After managing to hurt my back last week while removing the three Fascination dahlias from their large pots, (silly me) I've had to give gardening a rest.  It's been a nuisance having such fine weather as we have been having and not being able to do any of the many gardening jobs that need doing, but there are times when you just have to accept things.  Last night we had icy temperatures.  I woke up to find the lawn covered in a white hoar of frost and the shed too.  That means I need to get on with some of my jobs before it's too late. Today my back problem has eased to the point that I can continue with what I needed to do to protect the dahlias during winter.  Fascination dahlia, fascinating a bumble bee Last week when I removed the dahlias from their pots, I carefully removed much of the compost from around the tuberous roots.  I cut down the stems to about 6 inches and rested the root balls upside down in the shed to allow any moisture...