Although maybe not the most stunning plant in summer season, presently of 12 months deciduous winter flowering Viburnums actually earn their place in the backyard.
One of the hottest is Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’. This medium to massive shrub is a hybrid of V.farreri x V.grandiflorum chosen by the head gardener at Bodnant Gardens in Wales in the Nineteen Thirties. In spring its younger foliage is a bronzy-green, turning a darker inexperienced because it matures. During late autumn and winter its naked branches are adorned with pinky-red buds which open over a number of months into pinky-white extremely aromatic flowers which, on a sunny day, fill the surrounding space with perfume.
A sister seedling V.b.’Charles Lamont’ has the same top and unfold (4mx2m) however has brighter pink flowers that are profuse and seem at a younger age. Viburnum farreri is one other winter flowering species found in China; named after plant collector Reginald Farrer it makes a extra rounded shrub than V. x bodnantense, rising to round 3x3m when absolutely mature.
Its extremely aromatic, pinkish white flowers are produced all through the winter on naked branches. There is additionally a pure white type V.f. ‘Candidissimum’ which has the identical perfume and behavior as the species. If area is restricted a extra compact type is V.f.’Nanum’ which once more has the identical flowers as the species however with a top and unfold of round solely 1m.
These Viburnums are comparatively unfussy plants rising properly in solar or half shade in most good backyard soil, but when your soil is sandy add loads of natural matter when planting. Any pruning must be finished as quickly as flowering finishes.
Plant of the month
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku’
Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’ (Image: Keith Clouting)
This hardy deciduous Japanese maple is one among the most respected for winter curiosity with its enticing coral-red twigs and branches which placed on a shocking winter show, nearly glowing on a sunny day. In spring its palmate leaves are a pinkish-yellow as they open, maturing to a light-weight inexperienced in summer season. In autumn they flip a mushy yellow earlier than falling to disclose their dramatic stems all through the winter. A.p. Sango-kaku makes a big shrub or small tree; it’s tolerant of lower than excellent situations however prefers impartial to acid natural wealthy soil in a component shaded, sheltered place.
Question time
I’ve a black sooty mould rising on my bamboo; what is inflicting the downside and the way can l deal with it?
Sooty mould is a standard downside which impacts a variety of evergreen shrubs and climbers together with Camellia, Trachelospermum, Bay and Citrus, the mould is rising on leftover sticky deposits left by bugs, often scale however typically aphids or in summer season whitefly. Check beneath the leaves and deal with the pest accordingly with an insecticide if mandatory, this gained’t clear the sooty mould however as soon as the pest is eradicated the mould will regularly fall away or if unpleasant will be washed off.
Catch up with Keith
Remove any spent flowers and broken or diseased leaves from greenhouse plants to forestall any fungal illnesses spreading.
The best vary of seed potatoes is out there now; early ones will be chitted by inserting them in a tray or egg packing containers in a shiny cool frost-free place.
It’s time of 12 months for path upkeep. Remove weeds, prime up gravel and refresh or renew bark prepared for the new season.
Regularly verify any saved fruit and greens and take away any broken or decaying produce guarantee the the rest is stored in good situation.
January is time to get the garden mower serviced earlier than the spring rush. It is additionally time to do any device upkeep and have that shed tidy which there’s by no means sufficient time for in spring!
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