Through the Autumn months leading into winter try to cultivate garden soil where ever possible, apply a mulch cover to keep soil and plant roots warm, and protect from disease and pests. Another way to reduce pests in the garden is to encourage birds to stay in your garden during the winter months with bird feeders and bird attacting trees.
Plant of the week. Strelitzia alba - Bird of paradise tree. One of the most stunning in Tropical flowers. The white Strelitzia alba is breathtaking in size, colour and drama. Plant in full sun to part shade, can be grown indoors but may grow to 15 foot outdoors dependent on local climate zone. Blue black / white flower spikes in late winter early spring-mid spring. Seeds can be selected for germination or propagation by dividing the root ball.