November Newsletter 2017

What a warm and balmy autumn we’ve had for the most part, but with the nights now drawing in, our thoughts inevitably turn to winter. The darker evenings may be hard to bear, but there are compensations to be had, such as lighting the fire, and planning Christmas.

Our existing customers already know most of this, but for anyone new, or who needs to have their memory refreshed, here’s why we’re different when it comes to Christmas!

Christmas Trees

Our stock of Nordman (non dropping) trees will start arriving at the end of the month. The trees are cut from sustainable stock, and come from both Scotland and Denmark. Those of you who have been buying our trees over the years know you just cannot beat our trees for quality. We are always delighted at the number of people who tell us that they’ve bought ‘the best Christmas tree ever’ from us. Along with quality, we offer some exceptional extras.

We are again offering our unique Christmas tree service, which includes 10% off the price of all pre-ordered trees …

Pre-order and pay for your Christmas tree between 1^st and 30^th November, either over the phone or in person (stipulating exactly what you want in terms of height and shape), and we’ll reserve your tree as soon as the delivery arrives, knock 10% off the price, and deliver it in our local area, free of charge. Add to this the fact that the base of the tree will be whittled to fit into a stand, and we’re sure you’ll agree, you couldn’t ask for more.

You can, of course, come by and check that you’re happy with the tree we’ve picked out for you prior to delivery (and change it if necessary, while stocks last). Alternatively, we can reserve your tree ready for collection at your convenience, if you’d prefer.

We believe this personalised service will not only save you time and hassle but will ensure that you receive the tree you want, on the day to suit you.

Prices are as follows:

3’ (90cm) £29.95

4’ (1.2m) £39.95

5’ (1.5m) £44.95

6’ (1.8m) £59.95

7’ (2.1m) £74.95

8’ (2.4m) £99.95

Taller: price on request

Unfortunately, we can only offer the taller trees IF YOU PRE-ORDER ONE IN NOVEMBER . If you want a tree over 8’, please call us for details.

We will also have a limited supply of 6’ Norway Spruce (traditional) trees priced at £34.95.

We’ve found a new supplier of pot grown Christmas trees, and already have Picea pungens ‘Super Blue’ in stock, with gorgeous silvery blue needles. More varieties will be available through the season. A pot grown tree can be put outside for the rest of the year, making a lovely feature plant.

Ask for further details if you wish to pre-order one of these.

Whatever sort of tree you are looking for, don’t delay – book yours today!

We will also be selling 2 sizes of sturdy metal stands – 4” @ £19.95 and 5” (for taller trees and thicker trunks) @ £24.95 which you can order in advance to be delivered or collected with your tree.

There will be a delivery charge if you buy your tree in December.

So, what else is happening this month?

Love West Dulwich Christmas Fair

The annual street fair on Croxted, Park Hall and Rosendale Roads is happening on:

Saturday 25^th November, from 11am until about 4pm.

Come and join in the community fun! There will be in-store promotions in many of the local shops, you can visit Santa’s Grotto, enjoy live music and dancing, face painting, arts and crafts, and warm up with tasty treats from the street food market. Put the date in your diary now so you don’t forget.

In the garden centre, there’s lots to grab your attention at this time of year:

Autumn plants

There are many plants and shrubs that look good through winter …Cornus (Dogwood) with their vibrant stems; Pyracantha, and Skimmia laden with berries; cheery little Cyclamen; Viburnum tinus and Camellia already promising colour and form in the months to come, as well as stunning Acers, Prunus and Cotinus, with their amazing leaf colour.

Spring flowering bulbs

It’s the ideal time to plant tulips and alliums, and as it’s been such a mild autumn, you can still get away with plantingnarcissi, crocus, bluebells and fritillaries.

50% sale of plants

We still have many plants, shrubs and trees on sale. Canny gardeners will know that buying them now (even though they have gone past their best) rather than in spring, means they’ll be stronger and larger next year. They may not look like much at the moment, but you’ll be smugly smiling next year if you plant them now. Check out what’s on offer in our sale area on the upper site.

Gifts and home

We have been stocking up on more items in preparation for Christmas. The almost ubiquitous True Grace candles in scents such as ‘Fig’, ‘Cinnamon & Clove’, and ‘Oranges and Lemons’, have had a 3 ^rd ‘Christmas’ candle added to the range. Come and have a sniff!

The funky Solmate Socks will take centre stage again. This delightfully quirky range of ‘lovingly mismatched’ socks and fingerless mittens are made from really good quality recycled cotton, as well as being colourful and fun. Last year I gave a pair to almost everyone, and they all loved them.

I’ve stocked up on gifts and homeware items from our favourite suppliers – Dassie and nkuku both produce such gorgeous ethically sourced and hand-made homeware items, including new items such as display boxes in 3 different sizes, baskets with sequined bands across the bottom – ideal for containing houseplants, knitting, magazines. We’ve stocked up on nibbles and salad bowls, with swirls of turquoise and sea green glaze at their base, as we know how much you love them. Garden Trading and Burgon & Ball both produce simple, practical and stylish items including a variety of different coloured indoor watering cans, wooden trugs, tin containers – ideal for pet or bird food – and wonderful outdoor lights.

Natalie Bond gift boxes are also new, and make a perfect gift. These chemical free, deliciously scented bath and body products are great for everyone.

We’ve got twine, string and raffia in a plethora of colours from Nutscene for you to either give as a gift, or use yourself to tie up your presents. The giant balls of string are a sight to behold!

Christmas ‘Bling’

I’m delighted that you seem to like the home and tree decorations that we continue to hunt high and low for. We have some truly exceptional items to grace your tree and home with this Christmas. We have again sourced glass baubles in a range of colours and brilliant indoor and outdoor lights, including a new hand-made range of fairy lights from a local craftswoman, Melanie Porter.

Seasonal Flowers and Table Arrangements

Our wonderful florist, Tamsin, is back at the end of the month to set up the florist area, and will be ready to take orders for your wreath, table decoration and flower arrangement requirements from 24^th November onwards.

Hope to see you soon, and don’t forget that every penny you spend earns 5% on your reward card!

With warm wishes

Karen

Garden jobs

The days are getting shorter and we'll all be spending less time outside, but here are some jobs to do when you have the inclination. The colours of the season will make it worthwhile, hopefully!

My top two jobs for the month

1. Keep up with clearing leaves from paths and terraces to avoid slipping, and from lawns to allow light onto the grass.

2. The autumn tidy up! Clean and store away all tools, pots, bags of compost, hoses and irrigation equipment which you won't be using during the winter months.

Plant and garden maintenance

• Leave ornamental grasses in place over the winter to support birds and overwintering beneficial insects.
• This is a good time to move plants around if you've made mistakes. Dig them up with as much root as possible, move them to the new spot, firm and water them in well. With herbaceous perennials, cut the top growth down so that the roots can get established without wasting energy on leaves.
• Make sure tree stakes are secure to protect young and recently planted trees from strong winds.
• Tie in climbers, and cut back long whippy growth.
• Mulch beds and borders with a thick layer of compost, bark or other mulching material to insulate plants and roots from cold temperatures. Using an organic mulch such as well rotted farmyard manure or one of the peat free wool composts will feed the soil and help break down London clay.
• Wash, dry and store any used pots, seed trays and containers to eliminate pests and diseases that may infect your plants next year.

Preparing for cooler temperatures

• Have some horticultural fleece ready to protect vulnerable plants against frost.
• Remember that the roots of plants in containers are more susceptible to frost than plants in the ground and therefore need protection. Move them to a more sheltered spot, or wrap bubble wrap or hessian around the pot.

Container gardening

• Raise pots and containers on to pot feet or bricks to help drainage and prevent the contents from becoming waterlogged.
• Get rid of summer bedding in containers if you haven’t already. They won't perform for much longer and it's really pleasing to see a freshly planted potful to go through the next few months.
• Pansies, violas, bellis and cyclamen will provide fresh colour in window boxes and containers. Plant them much more densely than summer bedding - through the colder months, these plants won't spread very much. Colourful bedding can be combined with small evergreen shrubs, ivy, grasses and more.
• If you'd like an evergreen shrub for a container, you could try a box ball or similar looking Ilex crenata. Beautifully scented Sarcococca, Heathers, Hellebore and Heuchera all make good container plants. We have some container planting suggestions at the garden centre.
• Camellia, which flower in early spring, can be grown successfully in a container, giving them the acidic growing conditions they require by planting in ericaceous compost.
• For more height, a standard bay tree or an olive might fit the bill.
• Plant some potfuls of bulbs to flower next spring, either a pot of one variety or a bulb lasagne with a layer of tulips deep down, then some narcissi or hyacinths, and then some Anemone blanda or Scilla nearer the top.
• Pot up indoor narcissi, hyacinths and amaryllis, ready for Christmas.

Pruning

• Acers, birches, walnuts and laburnum are better pruned now, after leaf fall, than after mid-winter, when the sap is rising and they may ‘bleed’.

Planting

• Continue planting bulbs in beds and containers: November is the ideal month for tulip planting. Some bulbs cope particularly well in shadier areas - bluebells, muscari, snowdrops, daffodils - and remember that bulbs can be planted under deciduous trees and shrubs, to flower before the canopy develops next year.
• With the good October temperatures we’ve had, the ground is still great for planting. The benefits of autumn planting are the warm soil, and cool nights which leads to good root growth and fewer losses. This applies to herbaceous perennials, shrubs and trees - why not plant a deciduous tree or shrub with beautiful autumn colour and look forward to the display next year. Or one with fabulous berries or fruit such as Sorbus (commonly known as rowan or mountain-ash), Malus domestica (crab apple) or a berry laden, prickly Pyracantha. Anything which has berries or fruit at this time of year will have had blossom in the spring: the right choice will give you several seasons of interest.
• Sow sweet peas ready for next year in deep root trainer cells. Many people report much better results from autumn sown plants, kept in a cold frame over winter.

Vegetables and fruit

• Start winter pruning apples and pears at the end of the month, but this can be done right through the winter months.
• Remove unripe figs, apart from tiny ones which will hopefully develop next year. The larger ones won't ripen now. Wear gloves to protect your hands from the sap.
• Apply glue bands to fruit trees to prevent the wingless female winter moth from climbing up and laying eggs in the branches.
• Lift parsnips as you need them, but leave them in the ground to get frosted as this helps the flavour.
• Sow broad beans for an early crop next year.

Lawns

• Now beds and borders are less abundant, try edging your lawn. Lawn edging creates a neat and tidy appearance and makes maintenance easier.
• It’s not too late to aerate your lawn to improve drainage.
• Keep the blades set high on the lawn mower for winter cuts.

Pests and diseases

• This month is your last chance to spray perennial weeds with systemic weed killers before growth slows down.
• Keep the battle up against squirrels - make their lives as difficult as possible in order to protect your newly planted bulbs. Try covering pots with chicken wire, sprinkle chilli powder around… there’s no simple answer, but it’s worth a try.
• Slugs and snails are still around, so continue to deter them from overwintering in your garden. Clear away rubbish and don't leave places for pests to hide.

Wildlife

• Clean out bird boxes as soon as possible: old nesting material can harbour parasites. Birds look for warm winter roost spots, and indeed, for somewhere to raise a family next year. If they are familiar with a box by spring, they are more likely to move in.
• Keep bird feeders full and provide a water supply too. Install a birdbath if you can, and keep the water fresh.
• Resist the temptation to cut back ivy and other plants which are flowering at this time of year. They are a valuable source of pollen for bees.
• When tidying and cleaning in the garden, leave somewhere for wildlife such as hedgehogs and toads to hibernate. If you're planning a bonfire, check your pile for any wildlife before you light it.

Plant focus - Cornus

There are two main groups of Cornus - Cornus florida, Cornus Kousa and others are spring and summer flowering trees, with large colourful bracts. The group of interest here are the shrubby Cornus alba, Cornus sanguinea and Cornus sericea which are enjoyed through the winter with their colourful stems.

These shrubby Cornus can be grown in most soils, and will thrive in damp soil which can be a problem for other plants. They produce their best colour in full sun, but will perform in most planting positions.

The intense colour of the winter stems is maximised by cutting the stems down to ground level, as the new growth is the strongest colour. Traditionally this was done in February, but it is now recommended to wait until March or April. Newly planted Cornus shouldn't be cut for their first two or three years, giving the plants a chance to establish. Plants grown in more shady positions should only be cut every few years.

Some notable colourful Cornus are:

· Cornus Alba 'Sibirica' - bright red stems, green leaves and excellent autumn leaf colour. Plant with brighter leaved Heuchera, ferns and spring bulbs.

· Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' - stems gold orange at the base, flame orange at the tips, lovely golden autumn leaf colour.

· Cornus Alba 'Kesselringii' - purple-black stems, stunning against a light colour background, or planted with white variegated low shrubs.

All work well planted in groups if space allows. Spring bulbs such as snowdrops make a good companion in the winter garden.

Finally

Enjoy the autumn sights and smells and make the most of clear sunny days. I’ll be many miles away next month, but you’ll still get some jobs to do!

Sally