Page 47 - Real Rochdale Issue 16 Winter 2022

GARDENING TIPS

FOR WINTER

ABOUT THE WRITER
Roy Down is an engagement and development worker
at Petrus as well as the chairman of Rochdale In Bloom.
His role at Petrus is to help improve the mental health
and wellbeing of volunteers through gardening, as well
as those referred via NHS social prescribing.

Despite the chill of approaching winter, there’s still plenty to do in the garden to keep it
looking good and to protect plants from any frosts.

What to plant
Taking care of plants
You don’t need to wait for spring to start planting – get a head start by sowing in November.
With the chance of frost on Plant crocus bulbs and tulips, ready for the bees when the seasons change. Give bare-root
the increase, it’s important fruit trees a head start by planting apple, pear, cherry and plum trees – they’ll get a full
to protect tender plants by season’s growth if planted now! If you fancy adding alpines to your garden, December is a
bringing them inside or putting good month to plant alpine seeds. The seeds need a spell of cold weather to allow stratifying
them in a greenhouse. If you (so seeds can germinate later on) to take place. Try to avoid any areas that may get
can’t bring them indoors, wrap waterlogged.
them in fleece to keep them
safe from the cold. Harvest your crop

When the days get shorter, harvest any root vegetables that are still in the ground,
including leeks, parsnips and other remaining vegetables. December is a good time to move
Clean and clear
shrubs around and the digging and lifting will keep you warm! Prune any pear or apple trees
that need tidying up.
The leaves have changed to beautiful autumnal colours – and now they’re falling off the trees
in abundance! Clear dead leaves from your garden and add them to your compost pile. If you
have a grass lawn, give it a final cut of the year to keep it looking neat and tidy. It’s also a good Green fingers, no garden?
time to prune back roses and tidy up and cut back any ornamental grasses and bamboo plants.
Head over to Petrus PIER, our
Looking after wildlife
community allotment on
Belfield Road, Rochdale, OL16 2UP.
Winter can be tough on wildlife, with food becoming hard to find. Give birds, such as house
sparrows and goldfinches, a tasty meal by leaving seedheads on herbaceous plants like fennel There’s always lots going on and we’d
and echinacea. If possible, leave mature ivy, which will provide nectar and pollen for insects love to see you there.
and berries for birds. Some species of butterfly will use the leaves for roosting and
hibernation.

REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2022 46 47 REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2022