START TO PREPARE THE GARDEN FOR CHRISTMAS

By Clodagh and Dick Handscombe

One of the joys of having a property in Spain is the pleasure of experiencing a colourful garden at Christmas. A garden that motivates you  to sit out  and enjoy the winter sun and perhaps also to work on the garden in  conditions that are often more like spring than the middle of winter, even if you need to wear a  light jumper. There are five main things to be done, starting now, to ensure that you achieve this.

1. Resist doing the major annual garden cut back in the autumn as you would have done in Northern Europe. The cut back is best done during the months of January and February. Earlier will mean few flowers in December.

2. Throughout the autumn aim to prolong the flowering of existing perennials and shrubs by continuously deadheading as soon as flowers die and the cutting back of unsightly branches to stimulate new flowering shoots. If you have a dry autumn also continue to water.

3. Stimulate the early flowering of shrubs and trees that often do not flower until early to mid January. The three main requirements are  to plant selected plants in south facing beds sheltered from  cold winds,   to keep the plants watered whether in garden beds or containers and to feed with a high potassium feed. Shelter can be provided by walls, glass screens, hedges or fences. In this way it is possible to encourage mimosas to flower a few weeks earlier than other gardens in the area.

4. If your garden is not already fully planted plant up some of the shrubs and trees we list below during October and November. With luck they will flower this year.

5. Purchase a selection of plants in flower just before Christmas whether a  permanent resident or an absentee owner visiting for the festivities. These can be for sunny spots in the garden, the front step and porch or covered terrace. 

We list below some of the garden plants that can be in flower at Christmas, and where appropriate give tips  on how to look after them during the autumn.

SOME XMAS FLOWERING TREES.

The most reliable late flowering trees are as follows.

-The strawberry tree (arbutus unedo) which also has bright red fruits to brighten a corner of the garden. The fruits are edible but in large quantities rather heavy on the stomach. We now prefer to leave them as a winter treat for wild birds especially blackbirds.

-The galan de noche that might be persuaded to pump out its heavy perfume on Christmas eve.
Of the early flowering trees the delebeta and bon accuel varieties  of mimosa are very spectacular with their network of  branches covered in masses of yellow flowers. Cut branches look wonderful in a large vase and can last for a week or more. Another tree to plant up this autumn, or next spring for the following Christmas, is the justice tree which can be covered with large bunches of attractive white flowers throughout December and indeed much of the year.

SHRUBS.

Lantanas are reliable in most gardens and also hibiscus in warmer spots. Likewise roses if they have been deadheaded ,watered and fed during the autumn. In a warm corner poinsettias up to two metres in height can be the perfect replacement for a garden Christmas tree.

CLIMBING SHRUBS.

Bougainvilleas, bignonias, blue and white solanums and the perfumed  white and yellow varieties of jasmines can produce some of the most spectacular year end displays. If you are lucky both the blue and white plumbago can also be in flower although not at there best. During the autumn ensure that you trim to shape, thus stimulating flower buds. 

PERENNIALS.

The frutescens and coronarium chrysanthemums and euryops daisy give reliable colour in many gardens. If you are very lucky a few margeritas may still be in flower. A near neighbour has a wonderful display of naturalised violets that always brighten up her front steps in December. We obtained a few cuttings last spring to give colour to a raised bed of clivias until they flower for Easter.

SUCCULENTS.

Several succulents can come into flower around Xmas notably the red hot pocker aloes and the aeoniums with their bright yellow spires of flowers and the various varieties of Xmas cacti.

WINTER ANNUALS.

The most reliable for colourful displays are the seasonal pansies, busy lizzies, stocks, wallflowers and also petunias which are now available almost all the year round. If the autumn has been warm and wet you may be lucky to have self seeded nasturtiums brightening up the front of beds and cascading over walls. Also  colourful portulacas can often be coaxed to flower through to the new year.  Although strictly a perennial, forced primulas are often best treated as annuals and purchased fresh each autumn.

CHRISTMAS BULBS.

Our favourites include pots of specimen amaryllis and hyacinths, and in warm corners of rockeries anenomies, crocuses,  miniature daffodils and freesias.  These bulbs need to be planted up during the next month.. Naturally you can also wait until December and buy pots of bulbs just coming into flower. Ensure that bulbs in pots and in the garden are kept damp. 

We hope that these ideas will lead to more colourful gardens at the year end and that hopefully heavy frosts don’t come until January or February.

© Clodagh and Dick Handscombe August 2007.