Edington and District Gardening Club – November news

As we are busy with the grand end of year gardening tidying, it is good to plan for next year’s show of flowers.

At our November meeting, Thomas Stone showed us how best to prune and make the most of our roses, as well as some tips on underplanting roses for glorious summer displays.

We learnt about the different strategies needed for different types of rose, whether bush, shrub, climber or rambler but always paying particular attention to the “4 Ds” when pruning. That is, to get good shape and healthy roses first remove dead, dying and diseased plant material, then get rid of defunct stems and branches (anything you don’t want to spoil the shape you are seeking).

For underplanting, the idea is that you choose plants to complement the rose and hide any stems you don’t want on show. Particularly good plants for this include hardy geraniums, dianthus, campanula, achillea, lavender, salvia and shorter varieties of nepeta. Choose any colour that pleases you, (whether it tones in or clashes is a matter of personal taste), but underplanting is really useful once the rose has flowered, to prolong garden interest.

So whilst we wait for snowdrops and spring bulbs, we can plan for summer colour.

December sees us celebrate at our social event and there is no meeting in January, but come to us on 1st February when Rupert Wade will talk about growing vegetables and kick start our gardening year.

Visitors and new members are always welcome and we generally meet at 7.30 pm on the first Thursday of the month in Edington Parish Hall. Also see Edington Village website for our programme of events, trips and speakers.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Sandie Lewis

Club Secretary

01380 830722