21 January 2024 , 09:30
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Despite the gloomy weather, it's time to get back in the garden.
Winter may not seem like the best time to be ticking off gardening jobs, but there are many advantages to getting your gloves on and bracing the cold. British horticulturist Monty Don says now is the perfect time to be getting on with tasks such as sowing salad crops, planting tulips, pruning fruit trees or decorative shrubs, and mulching.
For those wanting beautiful blooms of hydrangeas to colour their gardens later this year, should make sure buds are well-protected as temperatures plunge below freezing. But there's also one simple trick that everyone should follow.
Experts have stressed the importance of "knowing your hydrangea". This is because some varieties of hydrangea - commonly referred to as hortensia - bloom at different times of the year.
The Mirror spoke to horticulturist therapist and owner of Adventures With Flowers, Kendall Platt, to find out what to look for when identifying your shrub. "Mophead hydrangea plants form a bush with flowerheads that are large and dome-shaped rather like a shower cap or a mop head- hence the name," she said. "Their white, blue or pink flowers appear in early summer and they often flower right up until the first frosts."
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Platt added that Lace cap hydrangeas may look similar to mopheads, not the appearance of the flowers gives it away. "Lacecap flowers are flatter and smaller and often have a central cluster of tiny flowers surrounded by a ring of showier larger flowers. They tend to flower from July to early autumn," the expert explained.
When it comes to Panicle hydrangeas, which bloom from July to November, their flower heads are 'cone-shaped' and comprised of 'lots of tiny, delicate flowers'. Platt says this variety tends to start green and turn to a white/ cream colour or even pink as the weather cools.
"Climbing hydrangeas have sticky almost finger-like aerial roots that attach to surfaces and help them to climb (rather like the toes of a green tree frog)," the expert added. "Because of this, they can cover fences, walls, and even grow vigorously through trees in just one season. Their flowers are white and fragrant blooming from June to August."
Platt says if you're a new hydrangea from a garden centre, it should be labelled and state when they're expected to bloom. She added: "I think it's pertinent to note however that due to the significant shift in our climate, flowers are blooming often well outside of 'traditional' times."
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Last month, gardeners were warned that roses will be 'significantly' damaged if owners forget a simple, quick task. Amidst the Winter weather, it's important to 'deadhead' roses so they can maintain their summer blossom for as long as possible.
To do this, gardeners need to cut the spent flower stem back down to a leaf with five leaflets using a pair of clean secateurs. Experts at gardening retailer Hayloft said: "This encourages the rose to strengthen the stem and gives more energy to the other flowers."
Pruning roses and reducing its height will also help the flower when exposed to windy conditions, as many plants struggle with 'wind rock'. This is where heavy gusts rock the plants and loosen the roots in the ground, which can cause serious damage.