Page 44 - Phonebox Magazine December 2007

A Month in the Garden
Linette Applegate of Toddington Manor
Plant of the Month Acer griseum
During the depths of Winter, patterned bark or bright stems replace the colours of summer flowers, and this maple becomes a star attraction in Winter, making you want to reach out and touch it.
The mature mahogany bark curls off, revealing fresh cinnamon layers underneath.
This explains the common name of ‘Paperbark Maple’. To get the most out of this small tree, it can be encouraged to form a multi-stemmed specimen by judicious pruning.
It has the added benefit of wonderful autumn hues as the green leaves reveal their pigments reliably each year.
Winter is the ideal time to plant trees, and this maple will tolerate either full sun or partial shade, and most soils. Growing slowly to an eventual height and spread of 10m, position it carefully, ideally in full view from the windows to enjoy year round. q
For more garden maintenance, advice, design, and planting ideas, visit
www.applegategardens.co.uk
P.J.C. TREE CARE
Arborist & Forestry Contractor
Firewood/Logs For Sale
Fully Qualified and Insured New Customer Discount
Tel: 01908 210257 Mobile: 07733 268438
42 Little Linford Lane, Newport Pagnell
J. D. Landscapes
Landscape Design &Construction
Qualified professionals carrying out
PAVING PRUNING WALLING DECKING
FENCING PONDS PLANTING TURFING
HEDGE/TREE/SHRUB PRUNING Garden maintenance
Block paving drives cleaned and renovated
call 01234 711681 - 07768 621234
44 Phonebox Magazine
With the shortest days of the year, this month you may not venture into your garden at all, but as head gardener at the Manor, it is necessary to make the most of this dormant time, tiding Autumn leaves and debris from our enormous herbaceous borders.
But if you have time, it is worthwhile clearing your garden also, as this will improve the health of your garden by removing pests and risk of disease from your borders. Slugs and snails love the cover of autumn leaves around the base of shrubs and by removing these, birds will benefit from the extra food, while the slug population declines!
Many common rose diseases persist in gardens by over-wintering on fallen leaves – by clearing these you stand a better chance of healthier plants next year. Roses will also benefit from a third of their growth being removed, to stop the wind rocking plants during storms. q