The weather during January was mixed starting with mild conditions then turning much colder and brighter; a welcome change after the grey skies and persistent rain.
February looks to be mild and unsettled with a possibility of colder weather mid-month – as is often the pattern.
Work in the garden is sometimes at a standstill if the ground is frozen or water logged. February sees a noticeable increase in daylight hours and there are more flowers around – including the spidery, fragrant blossoms emerging from the bare branches of Witch Hazel (pictured); tiny Snowdrops alongside Crocus, Iris reticulata; the sturdy Hellebores have just come into bloom a bit later than usual.
The smaller birds are becoming very active as their search for food intensifies. Providing mixed seeds and fat feeders will help them survive. Place the feeders in trees and larger shrubs (away from predators) or hang on balcony walls or secure to window ledges. Birds also need access to clean water.
Gardening for many city dwellers is often restricted to window boxes or containers on a balcony/patio. For those lucky enough to have a garden it is likely to be small and possibly shaded by trees and increasingly taller buildings. This presents a challenging environment but there are a range of plants that will tolerate shade, providing the area is not completely in shadow throughout the day. Start planning and consider plants for all seasons.
Golden sage (Salvia officinalis icterina) – has variegated leaves and mauve-blue flowers in summer. This is an attractive evergreen shrub and grows to about three feet high. It is also a culinary herb with a milder flavour than the common garden Sage (Salvia officinalis).
Box (Buxus sempervirens) is a dull evergreen shrub but has its uses, grown as a specimen plant (or used for hedging). Box can be clipped to keep it compact and neat or fashioned into interesting shapes such as pyramids, squares, animals – or left to get shrubby.
Bamboo is a utility and vigorous shrub. It can be grown in containers or if planted directly into the ground left in a pot to restrict root growth and slow its invasive nature. There are lots of different Bamboo varieties available including Fargesia Nitilda either ‘Black Pearl’ or ‘Volcano’.
Fargesia Rufa or Fargesia Dracocephala. Summer Jasmine will tolerate some shade, it’s a vigorous climber, producing pure white clusters of fragrant flowers from May onwards. Seasonal bulbs such as Snowdrops and autumn crocus naturally grow in a shady environment and can be planted in containers alongside the more permanent shrubs and annuals.