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 