With winter approaching and autumn colour starting to fall evergreen shrubs and trees which form the structure of the garden start to become more prominent. One of the most popular and reliable is Viburnum tinus and its cultivars, these versatile shrubs grow well in sun or shade and in most soils including chalk. For me one of the best varieties is V.t. ‘Gwenllian’ this fabulous medium-sized evergreen is a little more compact than the species reaching around 2.5m, it also has buds of a more vibrant dark pink which open into clusters of fragrant white flowers through winter and spring.

Viburnum tinusViburnum tinus (Image: Keith Clouting) These are followed by metallic dark blue fruits which are also attractive to wildlife. A more vigorous variety is V.t.’French White’ which grows quicker, taller and has larger leaves with the same white flowers in winter and spring - a good variety for screening or blocking unsightly areas or as a specimen shrub. For a variation in leaf colour try V.t.’White Egret’ which has creamy yellow and green variegated leaves and the same pink budded white flowers. This one is best situated away from cold north winds to prevent foliage scorch in winter but is well worth finding a space for.

Viburnum tinus are usually trouble free, any pruning should be done after flowering. They can be cut back hard but this may reduce flowering the following year.

 

Liquidamber styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’ Liquidamber styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’ (Image: Keith Clouting) Plant of the month

Liquidamber styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’

Growing to around 6m tall but only 1m wide in 10 years, this fantastic extremely narrow columnar tree is perfect in a small garden, creating height and a focal point with a small footprint. It’s also good for a formal avenue. In spring and summer its green deeply lobed leaves cover the tree, these colour up spectacularly in the autumn with hues of yellow orange and red, persisting on the tree into late autumn. L.s.’ Slender Silhouette’ thrives best in neutral to acid moist but well-drained soil, achieving its best colour in full sun.

 

Xanthoria parietinaXanthoria parietina (Image: Keith Clouting) Question for Keith.

My Sambucus ‘Black Lace has a yellow and grey-green crust like growth on some of its branches what is it and will it harm the tree?

This sounds like a type of lichen called Xanthoria parietina which tends to grow on older or slow growing branches particularly in shade, it’s commonly found throughout the UK and is often associated with sambucus (elder). It makes its own food from sunlight and is not a parasite so will do no damage to your tree and is also beneficial to wildlife so there is no need to remove it.

Catch up with Keith

Insulate greenhouses with thick fleece or bubble wrap to save money if heating or just to give your plants a little more protection if leaving it cold.

Prune the fruited shoots of grape vines back to one or two shoots from the main stem before the end of the year, to prevent the stems bleeding sap if it’s done too late.

Tulips can be planted now for a colourful show in spring; don’t forget to mark where they are to prevent them being dug up by accident.

Any spent compost from summer bedding containers can be spread onto the garden to help improve the soil or used as a mulch to help protect any slightly tender perennials.

Dahlia tubers can be lifted after the foliage has been blackened by the first frosts. Remove any dead foliage then store them in a frost-free place in just damp compost or sand.

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