Snowdrops in the fellows’ Garden

At the time of writing this you can imagine how truly fed up we are with the persistent rainfall we have been experiencing. As part of my IPM management I get the team to check and record data, it gives me a great understanding of water rates, potential water-logging, stresses of plants, So far this month we have had 60 millimetres compared to 37.4 in January; so it’s been very wet indeed.

Storm Ciara and Dennis has been and gone and fortunately the damage was minimal on our sites, regular tree inspection and a bit of good luck has aided us when monitoring across all our college sites. Every year I look for the team to plant new trees and hedgerow with over 200 planted this month across our sites, these included Spindle, Poplar, Goat Willow, Ash, Hazel and Dogwood, for every one or two trees that may need to come down due to Fungal attack or wind damage we look to add more and a big ethos in my team is sustainability.

The chocolate scented Azara microphylla

On the Garden front we have recently been pruning roses as well as the wisteria and doing the daily continuous jobs. The Garden team of Stuart, Bruce, Emma and Sam have recently undertaken a Mowing course to refine their skills on both rotary and cylinder mowers, with a 100% pass rate as I look to up-skill and build their professional development.

There are lots of plants starting to come into flower that you should keep your eye on such as the chocolate scented Azara microphylla that is located between the master’s lodgings and Radcliffe Quad. The magnolia in the masters garden are also about to come into flower as well as lots of different bulbs and corms that are in flower.

Monthly Gardening Tips

Divide snowdrops and plant in moist well drained soil.

Prune winter shrubs that have finished flowering.

Robbie Eason, Head of Grounds Maintenance

Find out more on our Gardens page.

Published: 28 February 2020

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