Bill’s Winter Article. December 2022

Bill Hunt, Newsletter Editor and Membership Secretary for the Cookridge Gardening Club has taken on the role previously fulfilled by Eric Wells, as the author of the gardening articles published in “Link Up”, the Cookridge Methodist Church quarterly magazine. Like his predecessor, Bill has kindly agreed that his articles can be replicated on this website.

The following article therefore appears with acknowledgement and thanks to Bill and to “Link Up” the excellent quarterly magazine of the Cookridge Methodist Church. Bill is now a regular contributor to Link Up and a valued Committee Member of the Cookridge Garden Club . The article below forms part of the December 2022 – February 2023 ( Winter ) issue of the magazine.

Cookridge Gardening Club

It’s useful to know that local gardeners have supplies and advice available from Horsforth Allotment and Garden Association whose address is 21 Featherbank Lane, Horsforth, LS18 4QR. They are open on Friday evenings between 7 and 8 and on Saturday mornings during spring. Further information is available from Eric Wells at ericwells@hotmail.co.uk

In your gardens it is now time for pruning. Summer side-shoots on wisteria should be cut back to 2 or 3 buds and diseased or damaged shoots on climbing roses should be cut away and new shoots tied to supports. Gather fallen leaves from rose bushes affected by blackspot or rust during the summer in order to reduce the risk of disease in the new year. Fruit trees should be pruned for an open and balanced appearance which will encourage healthy fruits.

The exceptions are stone fruits such as cherry and plum which should be left until summer in order to avoid silver leaf fungus. Glue bands or grease bands around the tree trunks will deter wingless female winter moths. Containers of shrubs and bedding plants will receive better protection against frosts if they are grouped in a sheltered location. Faded flower heads on hydrangeas will still protect new buds from frost so leave them on until after the arrival of spring. Dig a trench next to a convenient path for your last parsnips and leeks so that they can be dug up and stored before the ground freezes hard. They can then be used when required. Have a supply of fleece or straw handy so that you can protect hardy salad crops.

Be aware of the nature of your soil, especially the PH rating since this will determine what you can grow. A rating of below 7.0 is acidic, above 7.0 is alkaline while precisely 7.0 is neutral. Home testing kits can be bought from many garden centres and the PH value can be increased by adding lime or reduced by an acidifier such as sulphur. All soils need added organic matter to enable the retention of moisture, which in turn will help to absorb more nutrients which will feed the soil’s microlife and ease the movement of water and air. Such matter can take the form of compost, leaf-mould, bark, woodchip or grass cuttings which will suppress weeds and improve both water retention and soil structure on decomposition. It will prevent erosion on sandy soils and capping on clay soils. Also important is the correct choice of mulch; woody material should not be incorporated into the soil such as for a vegetable bed since it can cause temporary nitrogen deficiency, while chipped bark can be acidic and mushroom compost is unsuitable for acid-loving plants. Composting is an easy way to add organic matter to soil and a useful means of re-cycling garden refuse and uncooked kitchen waste. [N.B. there will be a special presentation on compost in Cookridge Gardening Club’s February 2023 meeting. Please see the club’s notes below].

Bill Hunt

Cookridge Gardening Club meets at the hall of Cookridge Methodist Church. Our next meetings will take place on the following dates at 7.30 pm with the adjoining topics:

Dec. 14: Peter Blackwell – ‘Christmas Decorations Demo/Workshop’

Jan. 19: Jack Ogg – ‘Succulents and Cacti’

Feb. 15: John Cossham – ‘Compost’

Admission is £1 for members and £2 for visitors with tea/coffee and biscuits after the presentation. Further information can be found on our website www.cookridgegardenclub.co.uk and from our secretary Katherine Hill [0113 267 1858 or katherinehill@live.co.uk]

If you would like to join the club then please contact the membership secretary William Hunt at william.hunt7@ntlworld.com

 Bill Hunt. Cookridge Gardening Club.