Page 60 - Phonebox Magazine December 2009

A Month in the Garden
Linette Applegate of Toddington Manor
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. K
www.applegategardens.co.uk
Plant of the Month HELLEBORUS argutifolius
This handsome evergreen perennial can be Every year, pale apple-green flowers emerge
admired all year, but comes into its own during the bleak winter months.
The name is pronounced hell -ee-bo-rus ar- gew-ti-fo-lee-us. Also known by its common name of Corsican Hellebore, this hardy plant has structural, glossy, dark green leaves that are slightly prickly.
above the leaves, but as what appears to be the petals are in fact tough sepals (another part of the flower) it resists the harsh winter weather very well, the ‘flowers’ lasting well into spring.
Mature plants achieve a height and spread of 60cm, and hellebores grow well in shade or semi-shade, provided the soil is moist. K
Bernard Crook Garden Services
Sherington Nurseries
Bedford Road, Sherington MK16 9NQ
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Wishing all our customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
60 Phonebox Magazine
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