In the Garden: Get out and about to enjoy colours of the season

THE low light of the sunrise and sunset these days is helping to illuminate autumn leaf colour and it is a great time to get out and about and make the most of the uplifting colour on display particularly on trees as they shed their leaves in preparation for rest and dormancy over the winter months ahead.

It is good to get some respite from the rain which at times seemed endless during October. November can be a great month to get out and about and admire what the garden has to offer before it slips into a slumber.

It is always interesting to observe what continues to flower and grow late in the season. 

We have had a very mild autumn so far with no severe frost or cold to speak of and as a result some plants in sheltered locations have continued to power on.

It is also good to make note of where some useful foliage plants like flowering ivy is growing in an accessible location as it is so good in seasonal arrangements which will be starting very soon.

Naturally when venturing our into our own gardens a jobs list begins to form when walking around and if you are like me, you may go out to do one small job and find yourself in the middle of doing about five other things and never get near the original job! Maybe this is all part and parcel of enjoying the garden and becoming distracted with seasonal jobs at different times of the year. Such is the life of a gardener. Observing what needs to be done and doing it, regardless of the plan for that day, just endeavouring to get what needs to be done completed and enjoying the process.

Smaller birds like finches, tits and robins are noticeably more active in the garden at this time of the year as berries start to become scarce on trees and hedgerows. 

Ensure that bird feeders are cleaned before restocking with seeds as they can carry disease which can kill these small birds. Also good to allow for a bird bath of some description in the garden as these birds need to keep their feathers clean to ensure they stay healthy and disease free over the winter months.

As the temperatures begin to drop and the leaves are falling at a pace then thoughts of bare root planting begin to surface at this time of year. If there is an area of hedging or some tree planting to consider then now is the time to do it and planting bare root plants can prove more economical and less stressful for the plant as it is done during the dormant growing period. Gardens centers will be well stocked up from now until March and to have the best range to choose from, best to get started early.

Now is also a good time to consider planting more evergreens like our native holly and yew or some conifers in the garden to provide some structure during the winter months. 

As deciduous trees and shrubs loose their leaves it becomes more apparent where there is some scope for planting. 

Take an objective look at your garden once all of the leaves have fallen and consider where it might be good to plant an evergreen to have more balance or interest as you look out of the window for example. It is good to start with a view often observed and work outwards from there. It does not have to be a large tree it can be a small evergreen shrub like Sarcococca which is such a good plant for the winter months with its glossy dark green evergreen foliage and tiny highly scented flowers that fill the air with a heady scent on a frosty morning.

If you are thinking of gardens to visit this autumn Fitzgerald’s Park near the city is a great spot for a walk among mature trees as is Ballincollig’s Regional Park which has had some extensive tree planting over the last number of years and which is reaping the rewards now. Blarney Castle and Gardens has plenty of autumn colour as has Fota House, Arboretum and Gardens with many fine mature trees providing vibrant displays this autumn. The grounds of UCC have some great mature trees in addition to an historic atmosphere and plenty of autumn colour.

It certainly is weather to cosy up by the fire but it is great to wrap up warm get out and about when possible on dry bright autumnal days and be inspired by what is happening around us in the garden and nature.

Plant of the week

Forsythia is a vigorous deciduous shrub that produces yellow star shaped flowers on last years bare branches early in the spring and goes on to produce beautifully coloured leaves in autumn which makes it a good shrub for multiple seasons in the garden. One of the big factors to remember with this shrub is to prune it immediately after flowering as if it is left too late then there will be little or no flowers produced the following year. The most commonly grown Forsythia x intermedia is native to China and does very well in our climate. Best grown in full sun or partial shade on a moisture retentive and free draining soil. It is a hardy shrub and will do well on exposed sites and could be included as part of a shelter belt.