Mid winter showcases a number of flowering shrubs that offer respite from the cold. Many fragrant flowers like Daphne, Viburnum, Winter Sweet and Witch Hazel are in bloom this month.

Plant up winter baskets, tubs and window boxes to brighten up the garden, choose instant flowering plants or potted colour as it’s sometimes called, these plants are great value.

Get your seed catalogues and order new seasons flower seeds now, ready for spring planting.

Pick

Winter Sweet, Witch Hazel, Camellias, Viburnum, Wallflowers, Winter Roses – Hellebores, Dianthus, Leucadendrons, Violets, Daphne, Iberis, Snapdragons, Kowhai, Flowering Kale, Japonica

Sow

Poppies, Lupins, Sweet Peas, Wildflowers, Calendula – Petunias and Impatiens in warm areas only.

Plant

Roses, Daphne, Lily of the valley, Forget-me-nots – annual bedding types, Calendula, Polyanthus, Flowering Kale, Poppies, Primula, Violas, Pansies, Snapdragons, Sweet William, Alyssum, Deciduous flowering shrubs.

Jobs to do:

Roses

• Prune and then spray with a winter oil to kill any remaining pests and diseases.
• Remove all prunings and foliage from under the plants. 

Fertilise

• Blend in a layer of Tui Super Sheep Pellets to spring flower beds and allow to settle in for a month or so prior to planting. 
• Apply Tui Bulb Food to existing bulbs plantings 
• Apply a side dressing of Novatec to pots and planters.

Weeds

• Keep on top of weeds to prevent major problems with them in spring.
• Spray empty garden beds as soon as anything appears, or weed by hand.
• A thick layer of mulch will control and kill some small weed plants.

Bug Watch

• Slugs and snails are the main problem, they will munch through tender shoots and leaves of newly planted flowers.
• Lay Quash slug and snail bait to control, or get the kids to go on a ‘Snail hunt’ for fun.