PINE NEEDLES

PINE NEEDLES

Three trees in my garden drop a large quantity of pine needles in my garden every year. These are; a Cedar Deodara, a huge Christmas tree (a Norwegian pine) and a Parasol pine. What could I do with these needles? Can I use them to mulch around vegetables, fruit or flowers? Can I compost them? Should they go into the leafmould container? Thanks D.G by e-mail

Reply
So many questions! You are not alone with the problem of pine needles. There is a mountain of pine needles sticking to people’s socks in the front room weeks after the Christmas tree has been shredded. Opinions vary widely on the use of pine needles in the garden. The Americans approve of their use as mulch. Although they are acidic, the feeling is that they do not greatly acidify the soil. They are long lasting and look good. We have mainly acidic soil here so people seem less enthusiastic about using them. As long as you don't pile them up a foot high you could use them as mulch around shrubs, hedges and perennial plantings. You could also try them around established vegetables, but only if your soil is not already really acidic. They are very slow to decompose, so they are not suitable for adding to either compost or a leafmould heap in any quantity. I think its better to use them in small amounts and layer them into the compost bin.

Horticultural.

KITCHEN GARDEN

If you put mesh up to support your plants leave a gap at the bottom to make harvesting and weeding easier.

KITCHEN GARDEN
Just because it is cold and windy and there is loads to do around the house shouldn't put you off caring for the garden at this time of year. Let’s see what we can be getting on with in the kitchen garden

FORK IN
If you have any areas that are bare then fork in plenty of compost or rotted manure. If conditions are very wet, cover an area with polythene sheet to keep the rain off, and add your compost once the soil has dried out.

APPLE TREES
On trained forms of apple tree, such as espaliers and cordons, sideshoots shortened in summer can be reduced in length now to about three buds. Any new shoots that have grown to extend the framework can be tied in to their supports.

BEAN TRENCH
Prepare a bean trench on the site where you're planning to grow your runner beans next summer. Take out a deep trench and fill with the rotted contents of your compost bin. Continue adding kitchen waste during the winter. Cover with soil in late spring, then sow or plant out your beans on top.

EARLY RHUBARB
Place buckets or forcing jars over dormant clumps of rhubarb to encourage stems to form for a delicious early harvest.

NEW FRUIT
Continue planting new fruit trees and bushes. Bare-rooted plants, available by mail order from specialist fruit growers, offer the best value. Raspberries and cane fruits can also be planted now.

CURRANTS
Shorten side shoots on red and white currants to just one bud. Also remove any old stems crowding the centre of the bush.

DON'T FORGET THE SPUDS
Place your order for seed potatoes now, especially if you want to grow organic ones. These will be delivered later in the winter, when they can be set to form shoots before planting out.

GENERAL CARE IN DECEMBER

MOVE SHRUBS
This is a good time to move shrubs that are growing in the wrong place or those that have outgrown their position. Aim to lift established plants with as large a rootball as possible. Prepare the soil in the new planting hole well by digging compost deeply into it. Firm the soil around the transplanted shrub, and provide a stake for support if required. Water in well and mulch with bark or compost (or pine needles of course). It may be necessary to prune out a few shoots from very large transplanted shrubs, as the damaged root system may not be able to support them. Evergreen shrubs may need a more drastic haircut to stop dieback. Don't let this put you off as the new growth will soon be showing in spring

RAKE LEAVES
Finish raking up fallen leaves, especially those collected under hedges and shrubs. These offer protection to slugs and snails over winter months, so all leaves should be cleared away and composted. Also clear gutters, which can get clogged up and put all the leaves in a leaf bin to rot down.

JOBS TO DO

STRAIGHTEN YOUR TIES
Check ties on recently planted young trees to see if they have become tight and restrictive. There should always be a little play there. Research shows that trees develop better if they are planted when they are small and do not have tree ties around them but if your tree is large and only recently planted keep the tie on for a year or two until the roots have had time to develop and anchor the tree into place. If you feel the tree can stand up on its own then take off the tie and stake as soon as possible then fill in the hole the stake left with soil.

LIFT AND DIVIDE PERENNIALS
When the leaves have been blackened by frost, dahlia tubers should be dug up. Cut off the stems at 2-3in above the tuber, remove all the loose soil, dry them in an airy place, dust with flowers of sulphur, and label and store in a cool dark place. The easiest way to apply sulphur is to shake the tubers in a plastic bag with handful of flowers of sulphur. Large old clumps of tubers are better divided next spring, when you plant them out again. Division now only makes wounds for mould to enter.

This is the perfect time to lift and divide herbaceous perennials. Replenish the soil with well-rotted compost (and with plenty of coarse grit if the soil is heavy clay). Divide large clumps with a fork or spade and replant the strongest, outer pieces and water well. Also it is a good time to buy and put in new plants. The garden centres are brimming with new specimens at this time of year

Magic muck: If you all ready have not done so, try to get your hands on some well-rotted manure. You will need about one barrow load per 12 sq yards; you can dig it in or leave it on the surface for the worms to pull down over the winter months.

MOVING EVERGREENS

Lots of berries for the birds

MOVING EVERGREEN SHRUBS
If you are moving evergreen shrubs from one place to another in the garden check that the roots are wet. If not soak them thoroughly a few days before they are to be transplanted. Newly planted or transplanted evergreens, including hedges, should be regularly watered.

TRIM HEDGES
Prune back by 6-9in any weak, first-season hedging plants of beech, hornbeam, hawthorn and privet to ensure a dense, bushy hedge. Complete any trimming of evergreen hedges and topiary. Hedges trimmed in late summer may require the trimming of subsequent whiskers.

Get those bulbs in: Finish planting spring bulbs.

ELECTRIC CARS

ELECTRIC POWER HAS BEEN AROUND FOR LONGER THAN WE THINK

Every so often I will show you a new electric car. There have been some very strange looking ones I must say. The idea isn’t a new phenomenon though. Way back in 1947 Nissan were experimenting with the idea and they came out with the Tama. Of course the first recognised electric vehicle was the trusty tram, which are being introduced again into cities around the world. Just think of the Luas in Dublin. Anyway, back to the fabulous Tama. The machine had a top speed of 22 mph and a range of 40 miles on a full battery, a bit like the new G-Wiz that is on the market now. The car was on show recently in Yokahama as part of their 22nd Electric Vehicle Symposium.