The beginning of a new year is a good time to sit back and think over the successes and failures of the past year in the garden. What would you like to introduce into your garden during the coming months and what do you need to get rid of? It’s no good being sentimental, if something doesn’t work either move it to where it looks better or get rid of it completely. Over the years I have struggled to revive plants that either don’t like their growing positions or have just got too old – and generally it simply isn’t worth it. I know it sounds harsh but you will be glad in the long run (and save a lot of time and effort) by being strong minded. Having said that I haven’t given up on my black bamboo that was hit by last year’s harsh winter, sometimes I thought I could see some small signs of re-growth but then it all came to nothing. It has the coming year to prove itself and if nothing happens I will grit my teeth and sadly put it in the compost bin.

On the plus side the fruit trees I planted in large ceramic pots last spring have put on a lot of growth. As I need them for screening more than fruit it won’t matter too much if they don’t crop, but it would be a real bonus to be able to be able to pick fruit. The tomatoes, ridge cucumbers and yellow courgettes did very well and I will grow these again. The cherry tomatoes did better than the beefsteak variety so I will limit myself to those. I loved the ‘cut and come again’ salad leaves which lasted for most of the summer before they bolted – a definite must for 2012. A friend who had abundant crops with her small squashes last year has promised me some young plants to try for myself.

The potted camellias that I brought with me have done really well. And with the crazy weather we are experiencing are already in flower, this shouldn’t happen until late February and early March, but they do look lovely. At the first sign of frost I moved the Mint Bush and scented geraniums indoors but just put the lavenders under cover close to the house where they are happily flowering. As I just said, crazy weather conditions!

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