February 2025

Balancing excitement with essential maintenance

I’ve been so immersed in learning new collection management techniques, exploring the glasshouses, and eagerly watching for the first flashes of colour that signal fresh blooms, that I almost forgot about the essential maintenance work that keeps the wider garden running smoothly. This month, I took a step back to focus on some of these fundamental tasks: cutting back herbaceous material left for winter interest, tackling early weeding, and giving the Taxus hedge a much needed trim.

Pests and Pathogens: A lesson in vigilance

Erratic February temperatures triggered early population surges of pests, making inspections more frequent and, at times, more urgent. Some cases led to widespread repotting, while others, such as vine weevil infestations, required immediate intervention, often necessitating propagation to salvage affected plants with severely compromised root systems. Aphids and thrips, on the other hand, were more easily managed with a quick dip in a Flipper solution. Each discovery has been a valuable lesson in pest management, reinforcing the importance of close monitoring and timely action.

A Trip to RHS Harlow Carr: Limestone, saxifrages, and teamwork

One of the highlights of the month was my first garden visit – three days at RHS Harlow Carr. Working alongside the exceptional alpine team, and rock garden expert Tim Roberts, I had the chance to contribute to their new limestone rock garden. This is a long-term project which helps provide invaluable hands-on experience for trainees like myself. I quickly realised that constructing a naturalistic rock garden is far more meticulous than I had anticipated. Precision was key as placing a rock just an inch out of place could throw off the entire design. With patience, teamwork, muscle power, and maybe a wee bit of assistance from a mini digger, we completed the final stages of construction. I look forward to seeing it planted up, and the evolution of the wider garden during future visits.

Afterwards, I toured the garden, meeting each department’s specialists and gaining insight into how their areas have evolved over time. A masterclass in saxifrage propagation rounded off the trip, followed by an evening celebrating the birthday of one of Harlow Carr’s long-serving volunteers, a perfect way to end an inspiring visit.

Transplanting rhododendrons

Back at RBGE, I spent several days assisting our Rock & Woodland department with a new development project. My main task involved transplanting established rhododendrons from suboptimal locations to more open ground, where they would have a better chance to thrive. With careful excavation and the addition of nutrient-rich topdressing, we gave these plants a fresh start. Staking and guying were applied to allow the shallow root system a greater chance to become established, and bunds were built to improve irrigation.

Weather Watching: An unexpected skill revival

I thought leaving my previous career working outdoors had put my meteorology skills behind me, but February proved otherwise. With fluctuating temperatures and high winds, I found myself closely monitoring weather patterns to adjust watering schedules, in order to avoid soaking plants before a freeze. Observing the weather is also important in deciding when to keep vents and frames open or closed to minimise storm damage. With the garden still reeling from the previous storm, I was glad to find there was no further damage. However, the frequency and strength of storms continue to be a concern.

Dunblane Alpine Show: A temptation for any plant collector

My first alpine show took me to the historic town of Dunblane, with its stunning cathedral and the picturesque Allan Water River lined with Galanthus in full bloom. If I had a garden of my own, my bank account would have taken a serious hit! Instead, I enjoyed talking with specialist nursery vendors and attending talks on spring bulbs – an inspiring introduction to the world of alpine plant shows.

Seasonal shifts in the Display House

February’s floral highlights started with Galanthus and Crocus dominating the display collection, but as the month progressed, Dionysia burst into life, followed by an array of Iris, Colchicum, Scoliopus, Fritillaria, and Tulipa, all beginning to show movement. Watching these subtle seasonal shifts unfold has been a rewarding experience, I can’t wait to see what March brings, and it is quickly becoming apparent that I’m going to need a lot more space in my phone for photos than I first thought!