Christmas Plants

When we think of Christmas, several images spring to mind: beautifully decorated trees, snow covered hills, presents and, of course, the plants we associate with Christmas - holly, ivy and mistletoe. These three are intrinsically tied up in the mythology and imagery of Christmas and there are many creative ways to use them!

The European Holly is an extremely old species. Before the Ice Age, holly covered most of Europe. After the glaciers the plants adapted to the hot dry summers and cold winters. These days it tends to be found more to the north and centre of Europe than the south, but it is still prevalent. It is, however, often protected because of its widespread popularity as a christmas decoration.
That being said, holly is a great plant to create decorations with! Instantly recognisable, when you incorporate holly into your seasonal look, make sure to spray it with fire resistant spray (this will keep it fresh) and place it away from both direct sunlight and direct heat. Check your arrangement daily for signs of brittle leaves or dehydration. Remove the offenders regularly.

We all know about the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe, however its mythology dates much further back than that. In the 1st Cenutry AD, Pliny the Elder (a Roman author, philosopher and historian) wrote about the reverence with which the people of Gaul (France) would treat mistletoe, particularly that which grew on oak trees. They apparently believed that it would be beneficial to sufferers of what we now call insomnia, high blood pressure and certain malignant tumors.

Mistletoe plants are a variety of hemi-parasitic shrub. This means that they grow on other trees/plants and derive much of their sustenance from them. Depending on locale, Mistletoe can be found on Oak (as by the Celts), on Polars, Apple trees and Limes and Hawthorn trees too.

Ivy is representative of paganism, a symbol of fertility. It, like Mistletoe and Holly, is deeply entrenched in folklore and legend, particularly in pre-christian religions. Even in Christian times, Ivy has been used as a decoration in churches at christmas for many centuries and mentioned in traditional carols, like 'The Holly and The Ivy'  and 'Sans Day Carol'.

Alfresia is an online retailer of garden furniture and patio furniture.

Planting Nut Trees in your Garden

December is the time to be planting trees in your garden, and so we thought it was the perfect time to look at a group of fruit trees that get much less press than their apple or pear producing cousins. In the UK, several types of trees that produce edible nuts can be grown though the most popular tends to be cobnuts (hazel), filberts nuts and walnuts. Sweet Chestnuts are also suited to our climate, though they do take up lots of space. In warmer areas, Almond trees can also be grown.

Cobnuts and Filberts

These two are very similar though do actually come from separate species. The filbert has a far longer husk than the cobnut, often encasing the nut completely. Some have frilly husks. Both trees prefer a cool situation, preferably partially sahaded. The soil should be free-draining and reasonably moisture retentive. It should not be too rich. When planting, set the trees at 4.5m intervals. They tend to reach up to heights of 2m. If you need to prune, leave it to late winter. Cobnuts and Filberts ripen in autumn and they should be picked and stored in a cool, dry place away from mice and squirrels. The latter can also take the nuts of the tree, so be on the lookout.

Walnuts

Walnut trees can eventually grow very large, and they need a reasonable amount of space. They are ornamental and create a pleasant, dappled shade, however, so they can be used as specimen trees on a lawn. If space is limited, choose a self-fertile variety, otherwise you may have to plant a polinator. Most trees take years to produce nuts, though some might after five years or so. Choose a warm site for your Walnut tree, away from frost hollows. The soil needs to be well-drained and retentive of moisture, with plenty of organic matter added to it before planting. The tree may seem to take a while to establish, but it will suddenly begin to grow speedily. Apart from the removal of dead or damaged wood, no pruning is required.

Sweet Chestnuts

There is not much point in growing sweet chestnuts unless you have plenty of space as the trees are likely to grow up to 30m high and half that across. If you have the space however, they're not difficult to grow and don't require pruning. They prefer a moist, woodland-type soil but will grow in any fertile, moisture retentive ground.