Don’t forget the Mistletoe!!!

We find there is a reduction in what we can actually carry out in the garden as we go deeper in to the winter months, so not very much can be done in the garden or the greenhouse at this time of year, perhaps make sure everything is secure and plenty of bird food in the feeders.

Perhaps we should take stock of what winter berry producing shrubs we have in our garden just now.

When we look out of the window everything looks quite bare so perhaps we should be considering visiting any plant sales in January and planning the seasons ahead especially giving consideration beyond spring and summer and spend some time planting for all season so that when we lose the growth of summer and the radiant autumn colours we do not drop in to winter with the garden being full of deciduous shrubs that lose all their leaves.

The most traditional shrub I’ve mentioned being holly Ilex aquifolium is a very robust shrub that will withstand snow, frost, rain and wind.

It has a number of different types including variegated leaves that can add that extra colour to a garden although with the prickly leaves it is ideal for bird nesting however not the plant you would choose if young children running around the garden.

It is a shrub that will grow in most situations and most soils except very wet soils so it would not be suitable for wet boggy areas of the garden.

You will find this shrub in many gardens growing on its own or even as a hedge, it is also a popular shrub for shaping.

The berries appear over autumn winter an as mentioned earlier if the summer weather is kind this gives a nice splash of colour.

If you are wanting to plant for berries then best to have a male and female variety and once planted it is best not to move, this isn’t a shrub that takes kindly to being uprooted.

A common shrub included at Christmas is ivy, an evergreen climbing plant that is ideal for a dark wall or shaded area of the garden to grow and give that evergreen colour all year round.

It is again a hardy plant that will overwinter well producing nice green foliage or again variegated varieties are available that are brighter green than the traditional darker green associated with ivy.

Holly and ivy are more associated with the traditional winter and Christmas shrubs but there are other shrubs of similar hardy nature such as Cotoneaster giving very good leaf colour, nice summer flowers followed by deep red berries over autumn and winter again excellent for birds in the garden.

Pyracantha is a good shrub especially red column or my favourite which is orange glow.

Symphoricarpos, commonly known as snow berry is another easily grown shrub giving nice coloured berries over autumn and winter.

All these shrubs will give excellent colour over winter and almost forgot……don’t forget the Mistletoe!!!

A reminder there is a making Christmas decorations workshop on this Sunday in the Visitor Centre in the Old Stable Courtyard within Pollok Country Park from 1pm – 3pm, all welcome.

Paul Brannan