Reducing waste in the garden

With the engaging response we received on our ‘Leave the Black and do Green’ last week,  I also wanted to share with you my thoughts on this Cyber Monday, about how we can use the circular economy for good in the garden and not spending (as much) money. As the weather turns and short, wet and cooler days close in on us, we also need to be mindful and ensure we don’t fall into a winter lull of sorts.

How to reduce, reuse, recycle in the garden

Share some Hardwood cuttings.
Take and share hardwood cuttings now. Hardwood cutting are taken in the dormant season (mid-autumn until late winter) and the ideal time is just after autumn or just before spring.  Easy plants to grow from cuttings are viburnum x bodnantense dawn and syringa vulgaris. Although this type of cutting may be slow to develop roots and shoots, it is usually successful and you can share your cuttings with family & friends.

Winter cuttings & pruning
Don’t be tempted to cut back your hydrangeas, wait until late January and preferably late February for this job. Enjoy the dried flowers for the winter months. Also don’t touch or trim lavender now even if you are not happy with it being out of shape. Winter cutting of lavender will almost guarantee it won’t survive the winter. Best time to trim lavender is at the start of the summer, late April early May and I prefer late July once it has finished flowering. This gives it time to put on a flush of growth before the autumn and winter. Rosemary is also the same as lavender.

Divide any herbaceous plants .
Make sure not to divide into too small of sections. Each section should be 3-6cm in diameter to ensure good establishment next year. Don’t forget to share some of these with friends and family for a gift that keeps on giving.

Feed the birds.
In winter the birds appreciate a little extra help with finding food! Fill feeders or hang suet blocks to help them get through. Birds eat bugs and feed on weed seeds during the growing season, so attracting then to your garden year round just makes sense. Try bird feeders as small gifts for friends that love gardening too, they’re easy to make, look attractive and its recycling again.