George Irvine on poppies, dahlias, rhododendrons and more

These began with the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, attended by members of the royal family, the armed forces, the Royal British Legion and many more, with the venue filled to capacity.

Then, on Sunday, the King, the Prime Minister and other public figures gathered in Whitehall to lay wreaths at the Cenotaph in remembrance of all those who gave their lives in the two world wars and in conflicts around the world since then.

(Image: Kimdaejeung/Pixabay.com) The poppy is the symbol of peace, and here in Scotland Poppyscotland are very much to the fore in organising the annual event and in raising money to support former service personnel.

The poppy is a natural flower; it will self-seed and will return to bloom year after year. Indeed its hardy nature is a large part of the reason it was chosen as the symbol of remembrance; it bloomed in the battle-scarred fields of northern France in the First World War, despite the devastation all around it, and quickly came to be seen as a symbol of new life and of peace amid the horror of the conflict.

Displays of wild flowers, the poppy among them, have become increasingly popular around the country in recent years in recognition of the benefits they bring for wildlife.

Inverclyde is no different, and wild flowers have been planted under trees and in other spaces throughout the district by Inverclyde Council's ground maintenance department.

(Image: Pixabay.com) They have done a great job and merit the praise of everyone in the towns and villages of the district.

Weather news

If you have been watching and listening to the news reports from the Meteorological Society over the last few weeks and months you will be aware that last year was the warmest since records began.

It is little wonder, then, that our gardens have suffered. Growing plants has not been any easy task, and many gardeners – even professionals – have commented to me that they have never known a year like it.

(Image: USA Reiseblogger/Pixabay.com) Changing temperatures and the move to peat-free compost have made it increasingly hard to get seeds to germinate. They just do not perform well at all. Even young seedlings are struggling to get started and to grow well.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re growing flowers or vegetables, the problems are much the same. Where do we go in the future, you might ask? Will things change in the coming years? I’m afraid the simple answer is that I don’t know.

Rhoddies need attention

Rhododendrons are shrubs which are often misunderstood. How best to treat them often depends on just what species are in your garden.

There are the large mop-head types, with which a common mistake is to chop them all back to ground level. Doing this will mean the plant will not flower for three years.

The other main type is the lace-cap; they do not need the same treatment as the mop-head, but again it is not a good idea to cut the stems down to ground level.

Dead rhododendron heads are best left in place over the winter as they provide food and shelter for birds.The same applies to other kinds of rhododendron. The best approach is to leave the heads on the mop-heads over the winter and let the dead flowers dry off during the colder months; when pruning, cut only one third of the stems, leaving the others intact.

Keep the dead flower heads on the stem over the winter. They will stay there of their own accord until the spring, and the old bloom will provide food and shelter for birds.

Plant wallflowers for spring colour

Wallflowers are very attractive flowers, but to see them bloom in the spring, they must be planted in the ground now.

There’s a wide choice of colours available; some are even known to be perfumed. They’re sold in bunches, and should be planted as soon as possible after you buy or receive them.

Wallflowers need to be planted now if they're to bloom in the spring. (Image: You Garden) Treat them as bare-rooted plants and firm them into your borders, and check the various species so that you get the correct height in your display come the spring.

Dahlia stems

When the first frosts of winter appear, dahlia stems will turn black. This is the time to decide whether you wish to lift them from your borders.

Some gardeners prefer the option of leaving the tubers in the soil all winter, but this option carries the risk that the tuber may rot if the soil is soaking wet.

Dahlia stems will turn black when the first frosts of winter arrive. (Image: Taylor Sondgeroth/Unsplash.com) Lifting the tubers will allow you to dry them off and clean them up a bit before storing them away in a cool, dry, frost-free place until it’s time to plant them in the spring.

If you do prefer to lift them, be careful if using a garden fork as there’s a risk you may damage the tuber. It’s also important to keep making regular inspections of the tubers during the winter, and some gardeners also opt to dust the tubers with sulphur before putting them into storage to prevent fungal infection.

Greenhouse guide

Certain plants, such as garlic, can be planted into small pots and kept in the greenhouse over the winter months; they are relatively hardy and can withstand the change in surroundings.

However, with many plants, if you’re storing them in the greenhouse over winter, you have to be careful not to allow the leaves to come into contact with the glass, or you risk them being damaged.

(Image: alexei_other/Pixabay.com) Even if you’ve covered your plants with garden fleece or newspaper to protect them, plants large or small will suffer if the leaves are allowed to come into contact with greenhouse glass, which can get quite cold during the night, and even sometimes during the day if the temperatures are low enough.