Plant of the month: Mahonia will scent your garden in the winter months

Gardening expert Sara Milne shows you how to have a scented, colourful garden throughout the winter.

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November is the start of the gardener’s New Year. Leaves will have finally fallen and most plants will have become dormant. It is the best time to make a new start, to rectify the mistakes of the past season or to try something new. Whilst the glories of summer have long passed there should still be lots of interest in your garden. Look out for the bright berries of the Cotoneaster or the colourful evergreen foliage of the various Holly varieties. Remember though, that only the female holly carries the berries, although you will need a male holly somewhere nearby to pollinate them.

Believe it or not there are several plants that can provide fragrance to a scented garden during the cold and usually dormant winter months. Many beginner gardeners tend to overlook this time of year but there are several winter plants that will help extend a scented theme all year round.

Marvellous Mahonia

Mahonia is an evergreen shrub that flowers from November through to March and produces long-stalked, bright yellow flowers which have a scent like Lily of the Valley. Their berries, unlike those of the holly, can be made into jam. They are easy to grow in the sun or shade and are not that fussy about soil although they might not enjoy a location that is boggy. Any winter flower looks good in a group backed by a Mahonia. Hellebores, snowdrops, winter honeysuckle, even the common winter jasmine, will look better in the company of the Mahonia’s strong leaves. Fashionable tropical plantings can take a dash of Mahonia but they also suit traditional borders.

Jobs for November

- Borders and beds will need some TLC so now’s the time to cut back all dead foliage, remove weeds and dig the beds over using compost if you have some to help the soil for next year.

- Continue to plant spring flowering bulbs in borders and you might want to think about covering the beds with bark mulch to keep them looking good and healthy over the winter months.

- As the temperature continues to drop, any plants that are frost tender should definitely be given some protection now.

- November is the month for bonfires and getting rid of all the previous seasons rubbish. Take care when having a bonfire and make sure that there are no hedgehogs or other animals buried inside about to take their winter hibernation.

Expert Tip!

Making leaf mold is an easy, free way to make your own soil improver and a good way to get rid of leaves, which should never be burnt. Simply fill black bin liners with the leaves, pressing them down firmly. When the bags are full, tie the tops and puncture the sides with a garden fork to allow excess moisture to escape. Then hide them away in a corner for a year or two and you’ll have a lovely earthy-smelling crumbly mixture.