A NATIVE of North America, the gaultheria procumbens, also known as wintergreen, is an uplifting shrub which provides spectacular colour and enjoyment all year round, producing white or pink bell-shaped flowers in spring and early summer, followed by beautiful scarlet berries as temperatures fall. When crushed, the glossy green foliage exudes a wonderful wintergreen fragrance. This evergreen will spread quickly, suppressing weeds, and does best in moist soil in a sunny or partially shaded position. It is versatile, equally at home in banks, borders, flowerbeds and containers and it is guaranteed to add vibrancy to your garden or terrace all year round.
What to do in the garden
:: Insulate containers to reduce the risk of roots freezing.
:: Tackle overgrown deciduous hedging, pruning it back hard to encourage new growth for next season. Don't trim evergreen hedges now.
:: Apply a bulky organic mulch around the base of trees, shrubs and climbers.
:: Plant bare-root and container-grown roses.
:: Plant tulips, lilies and hyacinths in beds, borders and containers.
:: Cut back the top growth on ornamental grasses that don't look attractive at this time of year.
:: Thin out canes on established bamboos.
:: Clear fallen leaves from the lawn, beds and borders.
:: Brush toadstools off the lawn using a broom.
:: Protect less hardy bulbs such as nerines and agapanthus by mulching the area where they are planted.
:: Send off for catalogues from specialist fruit tree nurseries.
:: Cut back faded foliage from pond and marginal plants before it falls in the water.
:: Prune redcurrants, blackcurrants and gooseberries if you haven't already done so.
