On 07/10/2012 15:23, Roy22 wrote:
Last Xmas, I planted three new Privet plants (3 feet high) to fill a
metre gap in a long established Privet hedge. The gap had been opened
up by the careless pruning of an adjacent tree by a neighbour.

When planting, I dug some bonemeal safely below the roots, whilst
putting some 'Rootgrow' fungus on the roots of the pot-grown plants,
this being the advice received at the time.

Since spring, I've been watering the plants weekly with a watering can
of water plus a high nitrogen feed. They've grown well during the
summer.

My question is, now winter approaches, what care should they get.
Weekly water? Is high nitrogen feed, or anything else, wise over the
winter months?




You would have prepared them for winter better had you ceased the
nitrogen feed and used a high potash feed (tomato or rose fertiliser)
instead from about August time. Potash helps to ripen the wood.
Nitrogen produces soft new growth that is prone to frost damage. I only
ever use potash (Tomorite or similar) after the end of August (or July
in colder areas).

If I were you, I would give them a high potash feed now and, perhaps,
also cut the hedge back slightly. You may have noticed that when
trimming a woody plant, the trimmed soft growth starts to harden off.
This should offer another layer of protection.

Also, once you've watered the postash feed in, mulch the root area
thickly (not too close to the trunk or it could rot) to both hold the
water in and to protect the root zone from frost. I've forgotten
(sorry!) who mentioned the roots being drawn to the surface to look for
water due to your watering can method, but it's certainly true. A good
mulch would act as a blanket during the icier weather ahead.

As to watering, once the mulch is in place, cease watering but watch the
plants for signs of drought. Then water well and leave them until they
seem droopy again. Make your plants' roots search for water well below
ground. This will eventually make them more drought tolerant and more
stable in the ground.

--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay