With the onset of Winter, we discover many changes in the garden and this year, despite the warmer weather, is no exception.

Many of the prettier plants in our gardens are herbaceous perennials.  Herbaceous plants don’t have woody stems, they have soft green stems which tend to die back in the winter months.  However, they will re-emerge from the soil as the weather warms up and the days get longer (they’re NOT dead).  Some of the most common herbaceous perennials are Agastache, Echinacea, Hosta, Nepeta,  Rudbeckia and Salvia.  If you have any of these plants in your garden, they will come back each year.

By now most of the Hydrangea shrubs have lost their leaves and have turned to sticks.  Again they’re not dead, they’re just deciduous.  My Hydrangeas get a good prune at this time of year, I remove all the dead wood and cut the bare stems to the lowest set of bright green buds.   This ensures I get masses of new flowers, but they shrub itself stays bushy and compact.

A lot of the deciduous trees have lost their leaves by now and I would recommend you prune prior to the winter months, however if you missed the opportunity in Autumn, you can still do it now.  The one exception to this rule is the Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.), Crepe Myrtles don’t necessarily have to be pruned at all, but if you are planning to prune, then timing is crucial.  Crepe Myrtles should be pruned in late winter (July or August), prior to the new growth starting.  This timing promotes vigorous new spring growth and an abundance of summer blooms.

Another plant that requires pruning to promote optimal growth and strong healthy blooms is the Rose.  Ideally roses should be pruned in July or August or just before the new growth emerges.  You can be quite hard with rose pruning, you’re looking to remove dead or diseased wood and branches that cross over.  Cuts should be made on the opposite side and above an outfacing node at a 45 degree angle.

There’s lots of lovely new arrivals at the Sanctuary Point Garden Centre during the Winter months and they’re about to burst into flower during the cooler months.  They include hellebores, banksias, grevilleas, camellias, eremophila (emu bush), hardenbergia, hebes, proteas, leucadendron and Serruria.  Other seasonal arrivals include lots of fresh new potted roses and a good selection of potted fruiting and ornamental trees,

We hope you’re all enjoying your winter veg patches?  Don’t forget are first tomato seedlings arrive at the end of July!!!!!!

Wishing you all an amazing month of fun in the garden from Kathy & Greg – the Sanctuary Point Garden Centre.