Page 11 - HGS Suburb News 137 - Winter 2019

To prune or not to prune – that is the question?

Well, Gardeners, you know what on as protection and only cut back most of the foliage in place to insulate
it’s like, you go outside for a peek, and when new growth starts to emerge in the plant crown but trim out any dead
one thing leads to another, and before spring. Ha! Once that starts to happen or badly damaged foliage by cutting it
you know it you find yourself on your are you supposed to get down with the off at the leaf’s base.
hands and knees, crocs for footwear scissors and individually sort the old Cannas? Well, it all depends. I know,
and best jeans, fiddling around in the from the new? In my experience tender that’s not very helpful. I dare say in a
borders. Back inside, new resolve, grasses like Pennisetum are unlikely to mild winter they might survive in the
change of clothes and off we go! survive whether you leave them intact borders but as I prefer to display my
So, where do I start? The roses. Oh, or not, the rest will come through if Cannas in containers I should just
but if I prune them now before the cut back now; they’re tough plants. move them undercover. Have you
Real Winter kicks in, all the new shoots Ferns ditto, autumn colour faded at bit, seen the size of my containers? I could
will be frosted. To hell with it, they’ll floppy fronds? If you like’em, leave’em. treat them like Dahlias – lift them,
recover. Anyway, their leaves are If you don’t, chop’em awf! prune back top growth to about 4
covered in black spot. The huge tender My all-time conundrum is what to inches, lightly trim roots, submerge
Salvias? It seems counterintuitive to do with Kniphofia leaves. The newer them in spent compost, surrounded Hakonachloa - dried winter interest
cut them back whilst they’re still Popsicle varieties make it very easy, as by newspaper in wooden crates, store round the back. Why? Because I don’t
flowering. Too late, too big and too their shoe-lace leaves just come away them in a cool but frost-free shed – but have to look at them every single day
lazy to dig them up, so I’ll hedge my in your hand and the crown is below I really can’t be bothered! Fortunately, on the patio!
bets by piling their crowns up with ground level. But the fleshier varieties, having lifted and divided them last So in a nutshell, there are no hard
mulch and only cutting them down to such as Great Dixter favourite Kniphofia year I can afford to be cavalier about and fast rules. Getting to know your
Miscanthus, stately or messy
about 3ft. After all, they survived The Rooperi, don’t make it obvious! As their survival as I have a profusion. garden’s exposed and sheltered sites
It’s January 1st and here I am in the Beast From the East. And I’ve got tempting as it is to chop their unsightly Whilst I am confident that the majority helps you to take calculated risks. No
garden. Low light levels, brooding skies, cuttings as insurance. leaves back, one must resist. Leave will survive on the south facing patio, two winters are the same. I’ve learnt
chill but still. The detritus of autumn By now I’m feeling quite Gung Ho! sheltered by the house and insulated that cold and dry is often kinder to
spread all over the show. Back in Then there is the question of ornamental by the pergola, I’m chancing my arm perennials than warm and wet. It’s
November I glibly resolved to leave grasses. Experts advise you to leave seed somewhat by leaving others in tubs by very difficult to kill a rose through
the Clear Up until Spring, which heads on over winter for architectural my exposed, north facing front door. hard pruning but very easy to let it
seemed such a long way off. Well I interest and food for the birds. All very Cut them down? While it’s a pretty grow leggy and out of shape by timid
can’t just sit back until March, looking well, but whilst the tasselled stems of safe bet to cut back the sheltered ones, cuts. It’s very rare that I’ve killed a
out on that sorry mess for another two Miscanthus soar resplendent, their wispy I’d exercise caution by leaving the plant through pruning it too early, but
months. Besides, the birds need feeding, leaves are flying all over the show like north facing ones intact. A sure and don’t take risks with treasured plants if
the paths need clearing, and I am streamers. Only one option; comb out certain case of, “Do As I Say not Do as you’re unsure of your actions. Trial
going stir crazy indoors with nothing the leaves by hand of course. Our I Do”: in fact I have done the opposite: and error, flexibility but above all,
but post-Xmas cheese and chocolate Hortictural Betters also tell us to leave cut back completely by the front door, experience. That’s pruning for you!
to keep me company. the dried stems of deciduous grasses Ferns in winter but left top growth to hang in tatters CAROLINE BROOME
THE GARDEN GIRL • 79 CHURCH LANE, EAST FINCHLEY, LONDON N2 0TH • M: 07757 016287 T: 020 8444 2329 EMAIL: CAROLINE@THEGARDENGIRLS.BIZ • LONDON GARDENS SOCIETY: BEST SMALL BACK GARDEN 2017 & 2018

Medicine and gardening Suburb rainfall

– a personal perspective The last quarter of 2018 was drier It is important to remember shepherd’s warning’, is possibly
than usual but not as dry as the that, within its relatively small more use than official weather
Associations between medicine, last two years. As a whole, though, area, Britain as a whole has a forecasts; and we have had more
plants, gardening and health are with almost 24 inches of rainfall, considerable variety of micro- than usual wonderful sunsets.
longstanding. Early physicians, the year was below the average climates and, therefore, of weather. At the time of writing, however,
herbalists and apothecaries used of nearly 30 inches. The summer Where the rain actually falls tends we could do with some more
herbs and other plants in their was particularly dry, which was to be in the west of Scotland rain if we are to make any
remedies and tinctures – a practice great for picnics and outdoor and in Wales. Indeed, the driest impression on our gardens and
that survives in a more limited events, but not so good for the area of the country might be the ensure that our brave roses, yet
way today. More recently, but grass and hedges which are so Barnet and Enfield boundary. again flowering in spite of the
before the advent of pagers and important for the landscape of So, ‘red sky at night; shepherd’s season, continue to flourish.
mobile phones, on-call doctors our ‘green and pleasant land’. delight – red sky in the morning; DIANA IWI FROM MEADWAY
of all specialities had to be
available to respond to calls on
their home phone. Many found At the same time the benefits Gardening can be seen as HGS HS News and Open Gardens
that those hours on-call, but not of exercise were becoming ‘exercise in a green place’. Bending,
working, were very conducive apparent. Initially it was jogging, lifting, digging and a multiplicity The HGS Horticultural Society Since its foundation in 1927, in Fellowship House on Thursday,
to growing vegetables, fruit and cycling and swimming, but later of other tasks can help to keep celebrated Christmas in style the National Garden Scheme has March 7 at 7.30pm, which is
ornamental plants. the whole gym craze. Personally the body in shape. Increasing with a Sixties-themed evening. donated a total of £55 million followed by the Seed Swap. Dr
In the early years as a GP I was convinced by the ‘exercise evidence is showing the benefits A good number of members were to charity, the largest and best- Jenifer Wakelyn will be giving a
partner at Temple Fortune Health in a green place’ concept. Walking, for mental and psychological present, sharing delicious food known being Macmillan and talk entitled ‘The Root to Mental
Centre my colleagues and I were running and other exercise health and numerous schemes and enjoying a fabulous selection Marie Curie. The NGS is the Health: Why Gardening is Good
on-call every third night and outdoors had all the benefits of have been started for a variety of music accompanied by photos largest individual funder in the For You’. This is free to members,
weekend. It was then that my the indoor activity plus the of conditions, ranging from and videos from that time. history of both charities, as and costs non-members £3.
own passion/addiction started. additional bonus of being more anxiety and depression to Post Turning our attention to 2019, indeed it is for all its nominated There will be a Quiz Night
I found that not only was it a in touch with the natural world Traumatic Stress Disorder. we have a packed programme of beneficiaries. In 2018 a record on Saturday, April 13 at 7.30pm
constructive way of passing the – seeing the blue sky, hearing Gardening tends to be outings, talks, plant sales, seed annual donation of over £3.1 in Fellowship House, and a Plant
time, it was also a safe space in the drum of the woodpecker or collaborative and cooperative swaps and shows in this, the million was distributed to its Sale at the same venue on Saturday,
which to contemplate the myriad observing the dashing flight of as compared with the working 110th anniversary of the Society’s beneficiary charities as a result May 18 between 10.30am and
of clinical and administrative the sparrow-hawk. Soon research world, which can often seem foundation. We have our first of funds raised by over 3,500 12noon. Go to the website at
dilemmas that go with the job. I evidence was confirming the to be confrontational and ever overseas trip over three gardens opening during 2017. www.hortsoc.co.uk for further
called it my psychotherapy. many benefits. competitive. Gardeners tend to days in July 2019 to Hampshire There are some Spring 2019 information on events.
be agreeable people. and the Isle of Wight. All details dates for your diary. There is a talk AUGUSTA WOLFF
If you have a garden, do try can be found on the Society’s
to get out there several times a website: www.hortsoc.co.uk.
week when weather and other The centrepiece of the 110th Welcome to St Jude’s
commitments allow. It doesn’t anniversary celebrations will be
need to be for too long to recharge the opening of some of the Sundays: 8am Said Eucharist; 10.30am Sung Eucharist
the emotional batteries – a bit most beautiful gardens in the 6 February: 10am Ash Wednesday
longer to count as significant Suburb for the National Garden 31 March:10.30am Mothering Sunday
exercise. If you don’t have a Scheme (see pictures, back page). 14 April: 10.30am Palm Sunday –
garden, a stroll through Golders As well as opening the garden Liturgy of the Palms
Hill Park, Central Square or gates of eleven private gardens, 18 April: 8pm Maundy Thursday –
Northway Gardens can be three for the first time, and one Liturgy of the Last Supper
restorative. Even better, volunteer of the numerous allotment sites, 19 April: 10.30am Good Friday –
your services at such a place to there will be other attractions Liturgy of the Cross
make friendships and get the for local residents and visitors 20 April: 8pm Saturday –
physical and emotional benefits. alike: home-made teas will be Easter Liturgy
Hampstead Garden Suburb is served at Fellowship House, 21 April: 8am & 10.30am
I specialise in all domestic and fortunate in having a large there will be seasonal plants for Easter Sunday
commercial carpentry supply of allotments for which sale from professional nurseries
to the highest possible standards there is currently no waiting list The Plant Specialist and Rose All Welcome
Professional decorating services on many of the sites – how Cottage Plants, as well as home
also managed with over 10 years about applying for one? Finally propagated plants from a number
of excellence consider joining the Horticultural of open gardens. Enter our famous
Society and share in its wide- raffle, with £100’s worth of prizes.
Call now for a free quotation ranging programme. We have a There is partial wheelchair access
talk in Fellowship House at to several gardens. Maps will be
For all your professional 7.30pm on March 7 on the very provided to guide visitors to the SAINT JUDE-ON-THE-HILL • THE PARISH CHURCH OF HAMPSTEAD GARDEN SUBURB
carpentry needs joshuabergercarpentry.com topic of Gardening and Health. Open Gardens via the Suburb’s www.stjudeonthehill.com
DR CHRIS PAGE roads, twittens and woods.
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