Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

new novice gardener - what to do in the winter

michala.austinmichala.austin Posts: 13
in Plants
Hi,  I'm new to gardening and this is my first year of planting after my husband built me some planters.  The seem to be going well (with a few exceptions) but my main problem is i haven't got a clue what to do with them once the summer is over.  they all cost quite a bit of money as you know, so I'm hoping that they will come back year after year. (fingers crossed).  wonder if anyone can help (sorry long list) :-) 
i have the following 

lobelia
roses,
lavender
cosmos
osteospermum
alyssum
hydrangeas
dahlias
fusias 
lythrum
petunias
violas
marigolds

thank you in advance 

«1

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    edited July 2018
    lobelia: Annual bedding - needs replacing every year
    roses: hardy shrub, comes back every year.  Prune as per variety (if unknown, prune in March to knee height.)
    lavender: hardy shrub, but replace every few year when they get leggy.
    cosmos: Annual bedding
    osteospermum: Usually grown as annual bedding but is a tender perennial so can come back if protected.
    alyssum: Some are hardy, some not.  Which variety?
    hydrangeas: hardy shrub
    dahlias: May come back if tuber lifted in autumn and/or if protected from wet & cold.
    fusias: Showy types are grown as annuals but a few may survive if lifted when flowering stops, potted and kept frost free over winter.
    lythrum: Depends but probably a hardy perennial - will die back to the ground but come again next year.
    petunias: annual bedding
    violas: hardy perennial but usually grown as annual bedding and replaced
    marigolds: annual bedding
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It might be nice to put in a range of bulbs this autumn, including species tulips, spring and summer flowering alliums.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    A few small evergreen shrubs would add winter interest, too.  Euonymus fortunei are easy, for example.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • michala.austinmichala.austin Posts: 13
    great thanks guys - that really helps.  i bought  a couple of evergreen shrubs this morning. hebe i think they are called.  i will also look at putting bulbs in to.  i think I'm getting the hang of it - sort of.  :-) 
  • michala.austinmichala.austin Posts: 13
    sorry also forgot peonies ? I'm guessing they are perennial too?
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    yes they are everything else has been covered.
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    make sure you don't plant those peonies too deep or they wont flower, the tuber should be about an inch under the soil, or the same height as in the nursery pot
  • michala.austinmichala.austin Posts: 13
    brilliant thank you :-) 

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    "what to do in winter"? go abroad where it's hot and sunny. That's what I do.  ;)
    Devon.
  • michala.austinmichala.austin Posts: 13
    :D:D great idea 
Sign In or Register to comment.