As Storm Claudia and other autumn tempests batter British gardens, a leading horticultural expert has revealed a simple, cost-free solution to prevent precious plants from snapping in the fierce winds.
The Tights Trick: Protecting Your Prized Roses
Gardening specialist Diarmuid Gavin shares his ingenious hack using old nylon tights to secure climbing roses against storm damage. Instead of discarding holey tights, gardeners can repurpose them as gentle but effective plant ties.
The method involves creating a figure-of-eight loop between the stem and its support, providing flexible security that won't damage delicate plant tissue. This approach not only saves plants but also keeps textile waste out of landfill, creating an environmental win-win.
November's Essential Gardening Tasks
Beyond storm protection, Gavin highlights several crucial jobs for British gardeners this month. For those forcing hyacinths for Christmas displays, he recommends checking growth progress and keeping them in darkness under black plastic until shoots reach at least one inch.
Other November priorities include planting hippeastrum bulbs for striking indoor displays and giving lawns a crisp edge for winter neatness. The recent mild weather means weeds continue to flourish, so gardeners should seize any dry days for weeding.
Now represents the ideal time to prune deciduous hedging, though evergreen varieties should wait until spring. Proper tool maintenance is equally vital - dipping metal parts in an oil-sand mixture cleans and protects them through the winter months.
Fascinating Flora: Carnivorous Plants for Curious Gardeners
Gavin also spotlights carnivorous plants as particularly captivating specimens, especially for engaging children with gardening. The renowned Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) traps insects between its serrated leaves, digesting prey over approximately a week using degradative enzymes.
These remarkable plants evolved their meat-eating habits to compensate for nutrient-poor boggy soils. Successful cultivation requires replicating their natural environment with acidic, moist soil and rainwater rather than tap water containing chlorine.
Among the most ornamental varieties, Sarracenia pitcher plants feature tubular leaves that trap insects like bluebottles and wasps, serving as natural pest control. Native British carnivorous species include Common butterwort with its sticky leaves and aquatic Bladderwort that uses lightning-fast underwater bladders to capture prey.
Despite their grisly feeding habits, these plants represent fascinating, beautiful additions to gardens and provide an excellent introduction to plant diversity for young gardeners.
