With my pruning and mulching almost complete, my focus is now to cut back all that remains of last years perennials . This Veronicastrum in Judy’s garden has been given an extension of leave, and continues to defiantly pack a visual punch with its enduring sturdy stem and seed head.
Unless pest and disease ridden, I tend to leave spent deciduous foliage on the borders over Winter. Not only do they provide temporary winter soil protection, mulch out weeds, but then naturally decay down to improve the soil’s fertility. It is only now in mid February, that I have started to remove this old foliage away from emerging bulbs, whilst ensuring the leaf mulch is aside from the crowns of perennials. I have a perfect Wolfgarten tool for this job, which enables me to leave behind the delicate foliage, buds and flowers of countless bulbs in my care as I rake through.
wheelbarrow loads of hellebore foliage have been cut back, to reveal some truly stunning flowers.
Finally , and most importantly some of my favourite perennials are no longer subterranean, ” Hello 2017 ” from an emerging Euphorbia Fireglow in Geoff’s garden.
Sally Wicks 
Hi Sal. A question on raised garden beds, if you don’t mind? I plan to make the beds about 50cm deep. Q1: Is this deep enough for every eventuality or way OTT? Q2: Should I line the bottom of the bed to prevent any growth from finding its way into my bed from the ground? (I’m thinking grass, weeds etc. that already exist where my bed will be. Thanks. Jon
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Hi Jon, I am going to make raised beds this year in the orchard, so watch out for a blog on them, but that won’t happen till Easter. So I think somewhere around 40 cm, which will be good for hopefully all your veg. I am going to line the base with heavy duty cardboard to stop the weeds I would strim them out first though. If you made beds at 50cm it does soind a bit excessive ! You could ridge the soil above the blocks to make a higher depth and larger surface area. Sal
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