BUY AND PLANT TULIP BULBS NOW!

If you have never ventured into the wonderful world of tulips, now is the time to do so. Your garden will be a more intriguing space if you start 'layering' your plants. In other words, adding to what is already there by making sure you have things that flower together or plants that bridge one flowering season to another. Tulips are great for helping to unify your borders with a bit of vertical planting from April to June

Here's some cracking varieties to try:

'Aria Card'  Creamy white with the palest yellow flush which fades with age and lilac mauve petal edges.

Height: 40cm/16in

'Honeymoon' Pure white-as-snow with fringed petals

Height: 45cm /18in

For those who love peonies -the peony-style tulips are gorgeous. Try

'Black Hero' A double form of the equally lovely 'Queen of Night.' Fully double flowers of brooding deep maroon black. Height : 60cm /24in

'Mount Tacoma' Ivory white with  green shading on the outside petals Height : 45cm /18in

'Angelique' (AGM) Pink and white blooms becoming apple blossom pink at petal edges as the age. Height : 45cm/18in

Expect to pay around £7-10.00 per ten bulbs depending on variety.

How and when to plant tulips

Think about planting your tulip bulbs now. I do mine on Christmas Eve. It's gives me a little oasis of calm before the 'big' day and being in the garden in the quiet of winter is a great way to get some thinking done. Sometimes I think of everything...or nothing and just enjoy the damp smells of the garden humming Christmas carols all the while,
Anyway, back to tulips. Plant at least twice the depth of the bulb from November to Xmas as long as the soil is frost-free.

The secret to success is to let the temperatures drop as warmer weather leave tulips prone to a fungal disease called tulip blight or tulip fire (Botrytis tulipae). The symptoms include  bulb rot to grey-green lesions on the leaves. If this happens to your tulips, simply dig them up and destroy them, but don't add to a compost heap.

This won't happen to your tulips, because I am helping you.

You can also discourage the disease by removing tulips after flowering, if practical, if not leave well alone. Planting them in different places each year helps avoid problems too. Never buy any bulbs that are mouldy or are soft; they should be firm like an onion. By the way, commercial bulbs are treated with a fungicide so wash your hands after handling them.

Now just wait till flowering time next spring.  You'll be so pleased with yourself and it really does give that 'WOW' factor to your borders.

WINTER DIGGING

In most places across the UK, the soil is still diggable, so give yourself a half hour work out by digging over your beds, borders or  part of your allotment. If you have clay soil this really pays off. Turn it over now and leave the forthcoming frosts to break it down for you over the winter. Nothing like harnessing nature to do the work for you.

Listen to your IPOD or tune into your favorite radio station whilst setting about cleaning up all the garden tools, put the mower in for a service and tidy up the greenhouse or potting shed.

Then .... relax.

Plant of the Month

Hardenbergia violacea (AGM) False sasparilla

Gorgeous evergreen twining climber getting up to about 2m/6ft. Handsome leathery leaves and a profusion of dangling pea-like damson coloured flowers from January to March. Why not plant one now so you have something to look forward to after Christmas?

Likes: Sheltered spot in full sun or part shade in any well drained fertile soil

Frost hardy down to -5°/23F; so needs winter protection
Care: Prune lightly after flowering

A well-placed large pot, an old milk churn or watering can or garden statue can make all the difference in creating a visual impact. Use anything that appeals to you.

Ceanothus growing with roses and clematis

Never underestimate the effect of mixing climbers, shrubs and perennials together. If you are just relying on perennials in the garden there are going to be months when there is very little to look at. In small spaces it's essential to make good use of all your growing space; so climbers are a brilliant way of jazzing up ugly or dull walls and fences; creating a vertical garden stuffed full of interesting leaves, scents and flowers.