Garden Nations

Winter Garden · Roses How to Protect Roses in Winter A simple, step-by-step plan for rose beds, tree roses and pots in Germany and Northern Europe Roses are tougher than they look. Most varieties sold in German garden centres survive a normal Central European winter without much drama. What hurts them is not one cold night, but the combination of deep frost, bright winter sun, icy east wind and wet soil that freezes and thaws again and again. The good news: protecting your roses takes about an hour per bed, costs almost nothing, and the best time to do it is right now, between late October and the end of November. Here is exactly what to do, depending on the type of rose you grow. Why Roses Need Winter Protection Most of Germany lies in winter hardiness zones 6b to 8a. In a typical winter that means nights down to -15 °C, and in the east, the south and at altitude, sometimes -20 °C or colder. Modern garden roses are grafted: a noble variety sits on a hardy wild rootstoc...

Autumn · Garden Planning Autumn Is the Start of Next Year's Garden What to do in your garden right now, and how to use the quiet months to get ready for winter, spring and summer, so next year is your best season yet. Most people think of autumn as the end of the gardening year. Experienced gardeners see it the other way round: autumn is where next year begins . The soil you feed now, the notes you write now and the seeds you sort now decide how easy (or how stressful) your spring will be. The good news is that none of this is hard work. It is mostly about doing the right small things at the right time, and using the slow, dark months for planning instead of panic-buying in April. In this guide: what to do in the garden now, a season-by-season plan for winter, spring and summer, a simple planning calendar, and the most common mistakes that cost gardeners a whole season. Part 1: What to Do in the Garden Right Now Late October and November are about three things: pro...