The constant gardener

Winter is upon us, and just as we may feel the cold and need some extra fortifying and protection, so does our garden

- MARY LOVELL - SMITH

It’s a wrap

As a rule, it is best to grow plants suited to your particular climate. However, there are always some plants we feel we just have to have – for a variety of reasons – and which will need protection from frosts. In my book, this includes black passionfruit and young citrus trees, which are easily saved by a timely throwing over of frost cloth. Even a sheet or blanket will do on those nights frost threatens – just remember to remove in the morning. But if that daily chore and afternoon angst of worrying whether there will be a frost is too much of a drag there is a solution – microclima, a cloth that can be left on all winter.

In areas prone to frosts, many perennials are best cut back to just above ground level and covered with a blanket of pea straw or compost. These are those that die right back in winter, such as monarda, daylily and peony. Alternatively, let them die back naturally, then cover.

Cardboard toilet paper rolls slipped over leek plants will help prevent soil getting into the inner leaves while they grow.

Tying the upper leaves of caulifl owers together over the white heads will protect them from rain, hail and even possums and rats.

Old pieces of carpet, coffee sacks or even a tarpaulin can be thrown over compost heaps to keep them warmer over winter and aid decomposition. They will also allow rain in – whereas plastic lids can keep them too dry to break down speedily.

Landscape 101