If you want a job to get you outside on a decent day over the winter, how about giving your compost heap a turn?  It’s surprising how much difference it makes.  Ours wasn’t working well, it just sat there, unmoving and dry. So I set to last month with a large fork, some cans of water from the rainwater butt and some comfrey leaves chopped up a bit.  I gave each forkful a shake to get some air in and break up the clods of grass clippings, then tipped it into another pile, watering if dry.  Comfrey leaves in shallow layers throughout will get some heat into the heap, it really does work like magic, I’ve got a clump I cut back hard regularly by the compost bins.  Shredded paper or cardboard will help if the heap is too wet. 

 

 I have a gardening mate who is anxious about rats invading the heap.  That only usually occurs if you are adding cooked food or meat to the heap, they are all real no nos.  So she invested in one of those bins on a stand that you can turn, she reports very good results and no rats!

 

Here's some more jobs you can do this month to get you out in the fresh air:

 

·         Plant bare root trees, shrubs, hedging and raspberry canes, soaking the roots well before you plant and keep them watered until established;

·         Plant tulips, good and deep, pointy end up with some grit if your soil is heavy;

·         Plant garlic and shallots;

·         Mulch tender plants such as agapanthus and salvias;

·         Gather up fallen leaves to make leaf mould;

·         Water recently planted evergreen plants during dry spells;

·         Prune leggy plants such as roses to prevent wind rock;

·         Make yourself a cuppa and have a browse through the catalogues, you can still buy gorgeous bulbs to plant now and flower next summer.

 

The hardy cyclamen have been so pretty this autumn.  If you have bought the little ones in pots to cheer your windowsill they will usually be fine to plant outside once they have finished flowering, Cyclamen Hederifolium are out around October and November in shades of soft pink and white, these are the hardiest. Cyclamen prefer shade and are very happy living among the roots of trees.  They will cope with dry soil once established.  Their larger and blousier cousins in garden centres now are for the house and not at all hardy. Pots of daffodils, bulbous iris and hyacinths can be planted outside too.

 

I’ll share some ideas for Christmas presents next month – please help me out and let me know if you have any suggestions!