The Garden of Eaden: December 2023

Are Sago Palms Cold Winter Hardy - Cycas revoluta

The Sago Palm – Cycas revoluta is an extremely handsome cycad species from Japan, and a popular choice for the cold hardy, tropical effect, exotic garden. However, if left to its own devices a cold winter can affect the quality of its glossy, architectural fronds rendering it a rather ‘moth-eaten’ and unattractive specimen come the spring! Despite being technically cold-hardy down to around -10 Celsius for short periods, a certain amount of management should be put in place over during a freezing winter to ensure they start the spring in the best condition possible. To find out what English horticulturist Simon does with his Sago palm, check out the accompanying video.

If you would like watch more content like this then check out our YouTube channel 'Walking Talking Gardeners'. It is absolutely free to subscribe to and you can unsubscribe instantly at any time. Click onto the notification 'bell' icon to informed as to whenever we publish a new video.

Tropical Gardens UK: How to Overwinter Winterize Tetrapanax papyrifer 'R...

If you are growing Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex' (T. Rex) - Rice paper Plant for the first time and are unsure as to how to overwinter it then I really can't blame you. Why? Because depending on the overwintering conditions it can display several different characteristics – which we go into in this video. Luckily Tetrapanax papyrifer has proven itself to be surprisingly hardy so in the milder regions of the UK additional protection may not even be required. However the further north you go, with its increasingly freezing temperatures, you will probably need to upgrade you management to prevent established trucks from becoming damaged. So, if you want to know how to overwinter or winterize Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex' (T. Rex) commonly known as the Rice paper then English horticulturist Simon explains how he does it with his specimens.

Five Mistakes to Avoid Cutting, Trimming and Pruning Camellias

Camellias are often the victim of terrible pruning and there are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly they can produce vigorous and untidy growth that cries out for maintenance, and secondly they require a long 'gestation period' to produce those impressively large flower buds. So, to make sense of it all, English horticulturist explains his five mistakes to avoid cutting, trimming and pruning Camellias.

Firstly always use clean and sterilised cutting blades, then after that it is all about the cutting technique and timing. Get that wrong and you can ruin your display!

How To Overwinter (Winterize) Musa basjoo - Hardy Banana or Japanese Banana

The Musa basjoo, otherwise known as the Hardy Banana or Japanese Banana, is arguably one of the most impressive of all the tropical effect plants that you can grow in an exotic garden. However despite its natural resilience to our freezing native UK weather the peudo-stems (the trunk of a banana) can become damaged when winter temperatures go down too deep. BUT! I hear you cry, because the roots themselves are in fact cold hardy to at least -12 Celsius, it will regrow from the roots in the spring. However, if you can maintain the pseudo-stems in good condition over the winter you will have last years height to start the season with as well as improving the prospect of your specimen fruiting and flowering! So check out this video to find out how English horticulturist Simon overwinters (or winterizes if you are an American) his Musa basjoo.

Tropical Gardens UK: How to Overwinter Stapelia grandiflora - Carrion Pl...

There are very few true cacti and succulents native to the African continent, but of those Stapelia and Orbea species are some of the most interesting producing some spectacular and complex blooms. So if you are growing Stapelia grandiflora, which produces arguably the most impressive of all the Stapelia and Orbea species and cultivars you will need to be aware that winter protection may need to be put in place depending on how cold the winters are where you live. So to find out how to overwinter Stapelia grandiflora where English horticulturist Simon lives then check out this video.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden December Tour, Walk-Round

Well, the inevitable has happened! Three nights of freezing temperatures and the entire garden has been ruined. However that means implementing a huge tidying up project and a timely application of winter protection for any tender, tropical plants you want to keep for next years display. So why not join us as we make a tour of the garden, pointing out all of the jobs that have been completed, as well as the jobs I have still yet to get round to!

These are mostly continuing to put in place more all-important winter protection on the tree ferns and bananas, and taking down old canna lily and Spanish reed.

How to Overwinter Winterize Musella (Musa) lasiocarpa - Golden Lotus Ban...

Musella (Musa) lasiocarpa, commonly known as the Golden Lotus Banana, Chinese Yellow Banana or the Chinese Dwarf Banana is a rarely seen, yet fantastic looking ornamental flowering herb species. However, despite the difficulties of finding one to purchase in garden centres, they are available mail order but this means you are usually purchasing small plants due to the cost of postage. That in itself isn't a problem as they will put on size during the growing season (assuming you bought one early enough) , but reaching flowering size can take between 2 and 4 years depending on favourable growing conditions and this means successfully overwintering or winterizing your Musella lasiocarpa over several years. So in this video English horticulturist Simon explains how he Overwinters his Musella lasiocarpa.

Tropical Gardens UK: How to Overwinter Tree Dahlias - Dahlia imperialis

The Tree Dahlia - Dahlia imperialis, is a superb architectural plant from Mexico with looks more in common with oriental giant bamboo than your regular ornamental flowering Dahlia. However despite its tropical and subtropical origins it can be grown in the cooler climates of England, although some cold protection will be required to get the best out of it for the following season. To find out how to overwinter Tree Dahlias check out English horticulturist Simon's favourite techniques in this video.

It does depend on exactly how cold your winters become, so taking that into account there are three ways covered in this video. You can either leave them where they are with suitable protection, you can lift and bring in or, by way of insurance, purchase an extra plant and overwinter that as is.

How To Overwinter (WINTERIZE) Dahlias

Although out of fashion for a while, dahlias have had a massive upgrade over the past two decades due to the fantastic work of plant breeders with regards to both their foliage and their blooms. In fact if you are looking for some seriously strong colour forms for your exotic garden the Dahlias are hard to beat! Furthermore many of these fancy Dahlia hybrids are surprisingly cold hardy despite their tropical and sub-tropical origins. So assuming you have invested in some fancy cultivars and want to ensure that you can enjoy them year on year then take out a little 'insurance' by putting some cold protection management in place. To find out what English horticulturist practices with his Dahlias check out his video on how to overwinter (winterize for our lovely Americans) Dahlias.

How To Overwinter (winterize) Abyssinian Banana - Ensete ventricosum 'Ma...

The Abyssinian Banana - Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' is an absolutely wonderful, yet rarely seen ornamental plant here in the UK. However, over the past couple of years I have been seeing more and more of them coming available. In fact, last year was the first year that they were on sale in my local garden centre! You may be surprised to find out that the Abyssinian Banana is surprising hardy despite its tropical origins and in milder years will survive outside in the warmer regions of the UK with just a small amount of winter care. In this video English horticulturist Simon explains how he overwinters his Abyssinian Banana - Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'.

Tropical Gardens UK: Top Five Agave for Cold Wet Winter Hardiness

Seeing fantastic Agave specimens littered across the landscape on your Mediterranean holidays can make you own gardens seem merely 'average and everyday' when you return home. However despite the desert conditions of their home land there are a number of Agave species which will be just at home in the milder regions of the UK as there are in the sun baked regions of central America. To find out exactly which species they may be you just need to check out this next video by English horticulturist Simon.

How Can Apples Kill You? Cyanide Poisoning?

You would think that with the old saying '...An apple a day keeps the doctor away...' apples would be arguably one of the healthiest - if not one of the safest fruits you could possibly eat! However, it turns out there is a rather sinister secret that our trusted apples have been hiding, one which if sufficiently manipulated could create serious health conditions and (in larger quantities) even death! So how can apples kill you? Well, I did kind of give it away in the title, however there is more on this subject to find out, which will be revealed in this video.

Of course, I am bring a little tongue in cheek as despite apples being able to technically kill you, the risk is absolutely minimal - unless of course you manipulate the apple relevant toxin for nefarious intentions!